Maternal intermittent fasting during pregnancy: a translational research challenge for an important clinical scenario

2021 ◽  
Vol 135 (17) ◽  
pp. 2099-2102
Author(s):  
Dominique Darmaun
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Ramadan Fasting ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Research Challenge

Abstract In volume 135, issue 11 of Clinical Science, Alkhalefah et al. report that, in pregnant rats, repeated, cyclic fasting, mimicking the fasting experienced by observant Muslim pregnant women during Ramadan, alters placental amino acid transport and increases the incidence of low birth weight. Though Muslim women are exempt, many observe Ramadan: >500 million fetuses worldwide may be exposed to Ramadan fasting in each generation, and low birth weight increases the risk of developing chronic disease in the future adult. Several mechanisms, including altered circadian rhythm, maternal stress, undernutrition or compensatory overeating at the breaking of fast, could, in theory, impact fetal growth during Ramadan. Limitations of the experimental model obviously prevent direct extrapolation to humans. Whether Ramadan fasting indeed affect fetal growth therefore remains unclear, as there is no clear-cut evidence from epidemiological studies. The paper illustrates the need to design further case-controlled studies in large cohorts of women who fasted at various stages of pregnancy, compared to appropriately matched women who did not fast, as well as more experimental studies focused on this issue of public health relevance.

scholarly journals Effects of ligature-induced periodontitis in pregnant Wistar rats

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariane Ponzio de Azevedo Galvão ◽  
Cassiano Kuchenbecker Rösing ◽  
Maria Beatriz Cardoso Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Female Adult ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Male Adult

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ligature-induced periodontal disease in pregnant rats on their newborn's health parameters. Twenty-four female adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups: the control group (G1) and the group that was submitted to dental ligatures around second upper molars (G2). After the four week period of development of periodontitis, the female animals were mated with male adult Wistar rats. There were no differences in the body weight of females between the two groups during mating and pregnancy. No differences were observed among the groups in relation to the viable newborn index. However, there were differences in newborn birth weight, explained by the diverse size of the litters. In this study, ligature-induced periodontal disease did not promote changes during pregnancy that resulted in low birth weight in newborn Wistar rats.

P2-146 Fetal growth in Bangladesh: a country with high prevalence of low birth weight and maternal malnutrition

2007 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. S170
Author(s):  
Y. Wagatsuma ◽  
E.A. Frongillo ◽  
S.E. Arifeen ◽  
M. Begum ◽  
M. Yunus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Maternal Malnutrition ◽  
High Prevalence

316. MATERNAL DIETARY ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING LATE GESTATION IMPROVES REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN PIGS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
M. J. De Blasio ◽  
C. T. Roberts ◽  
K. Kind ◽  
R. Smits ◽  
M. Nottle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Arginine Supplementation

Arginine (a non-essential amino acid) and its conversion to nitric oxide (NO) can promote formation of new blood vessels and cause vasodilation. This may reduce resistance and increase blood flow to the uterus and placenta, and the delivery of nutrients for fetal growth and survival. In pregnant rats, dietary arginine deficiency causes IUGR and increases fetal death and perinatal mortality, whereas dietary arginine supplementation reverses this. Human IUGR is associated with impaired NO synthesis, and eNOS activity in umbilical vein endothelial cells, but maternal arginine supplements have produced inconclusive results. We hypothesised that maternal arginine supplementation (MAS) in the pig (a species with naturally occurring IUGR), during late gestation, when placental angiogenesis and vascularity increase, would increase birth and placental weights. Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) gilts (n = 285) and sows (n = 326), were fed either a control or arginine supplemented (+25 g/d arginine, Nutreco Progenos premix) diet (2.5 kg/d) in late gestation (d75-term at ~114 days). Number born, born alive, still born and mummified, birth weight and d10 weight of progeny were measured. Data were analysed using Univariate ANOVA. MAS in late gestation in gilts and sows reduced the number of still born (Con: 1.17 ± 0.13 piglets/litter; Arg: 0.84 ± 0.09 piglets/litter; P = 0.046). In LW gilts, MAS increased birth weight (Con: 1.21 ± 0.05kg; Arg: 1.34 ± 0.05kg; P < 0.05), and litter birth weight (Con: 13.38 ± 0.72 kg; Arg: 15.27 ± 0.73 kg; P < 0.05). MAS also increased birth weight in LW (Con: 1.17 ± 0.06 kg; Arg: 1.30 ± 0.06 kg; P < 0.05) and LR (Con: 1.47 ± 0.05 kg; Arg: 1.60 ± 0.05 kg; P < 0.05) sows, and reduced still borns in LW sows (Con: 1.12 ± 0.14 piglets/litter; Arg: 0.77 ± 0.09 piglets/litter; P < 0.05). MAS in late gestation improves pregnancy outcomes in terms of piglet survival and birth weight, in LW and LR gilts and sows. MAS during critical periods of placental development may enhance placental-fetal blood flow and nutrient transfer, thereby improving fetal growth and survival.

Early growth outcomes in very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia or fetal growth restriction

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-604
Author(s):  
Jennifer Check ◽  
Elizabeth T. Jensen ◽  
Joseph A. Skelton ◽  
Walter T. Ambrosius ◽  
T. Michael O’Shea
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Fetal Growth Restriction ◽  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Low Birth Weight Infants ◽  
Growth Outcomes

scholarly journals Remodeling of the Heart of the Premature Child

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-637
Author(s):  
O. P. Kovtun ◽  
P. B. Tsyvian ◽  
T. V. Markova ◽  
T. V. Chumarnaya
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Wall Structure ◽  
Early Postnatal Development ◽  
Cardiovascular Remodeling ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality

Epidemiological studies consistently have suggested an association between low birth weight and increased rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adult life. Preterm birth, as one of the leading causes of the low birth weight, is associated with cardiovascular remodeling which consists of changes in heart chambers geometry and contraction-relaxation mode, ventricular hypertrophy, arterial wall structure and density changes. Several types of preterm birth are discussed: prematurity, associated with placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction, preterm leaking of amniotic fluid, and twin pregnancy. DNA methylation process under the influence of epigenetic factors of the intrauterine and early postnatal development is suggested as a one of the main mechanism of cardiovascular remodeling in preterm infants. The other mechanisms of cardiovascular remodeling are discussed in terms of the modern intrauterine programming concept. The early diagnostics and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in preterm born children are discussed. The treatment during prenatal and early postnatal periods as well as prevention of the remodeling causes could diminish and even reverse the development of the negative cardiovascular events and diseases in later life according to the so called concept of one thousand days opportunities window.

scholarly journals Intermediate Effect Biomarkers--Alternatives to Direct Concentration- Response Data for Regulatory Benefits Analyses

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77
Author(s):  
Dale Hattis
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
End Effects ◽  
Early Effect ◽  
Response Data ◽  
Public Health Protection

Perceived needs for extensive chemical-specific toxicological information have impeded efforts to assess risks and evaluate likely public health protection benefits of possible standards for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This paper discusses opportunities to use effects of HAPs on early effect biomarkers, such as birth weights, to predict likely changes in rare quantal effects of concern that would be relevant for the quantification of likely regulatory benefits from exposure reductions. In the birth weight example, even modest exposures to common air pollutants can be seen as producing a kind of tax on the limited resources available to the fetus to grow and develop. In contrast to teratogenic effects, dose response relationships for fetal growth restriction in animals are often nearly linear, suggesting that the developing fetus may not generally have untapped ”functional reserve capacity“ that is expected to buffer the effects of modest exposures to toxicants in the traditional toxicological paradigm. Given this mechanistic perspective, supported in part by parallel dose response relationships between reported cigarette smoking and both birth weight and infant mortality, restriction on fetal growth can be associated with changes in quantal end effects of concern that are more difficult to assess directly in epidemiological studies.

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