Maternal fructose intake predisposes rat offspring to metabolic disorders via abnormal hepatic programming

Distinct environmental insults might interact with fructose consumption and contribute to the development of metabolic disorders. To address whether in utero glucocorticoid exposure and fructose intake modulate metabolic responses, adult female Wistar rats were exposed to dexamethasone (DEX) during pregnancy, and the offspring were administered fructose at a later time. Briefly, dams received DEX during the third period of pregnancy, while control dams remained untreated. Offspring born to control and DEX-treated mothers were defined as CTL-off and DEX-off, respectively, while untreated animals were designated CTL-off-CTL and DEX-off-CTL. CLT-off and DEX-off treated with 10% fructose in the drinking water for 8 weeks are referred to as CTL-off-FRU and DEX-off-FRU. We found that fructose promoted glucose intolerance and whole-body gluconeogenesis in both CTL-off-FRU and DEX-off-FRU animals. On the other hand, hepatic lipid accumulation was significantly stimulated in DEX-off-FRU rats when compared to the CTL-off-FRU group. The DEX-off-FRU group also displayed impaired very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production and reduced hepatic expression of apoB, mttp, and sec22b. DEX-off-FRU has lower hepatic levels of autophagy markers. Taken together, our results support the unprecedented notion that in utero glucocorticoid exposure exacerbates hepatic steatosis caused by fructose consumption later in life.

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High Relative Abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri and Fructose Intake are Associated with Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children from Mexico City

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11061207 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1207 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Eira E. Huerta-Ávila ◽

Ivonne Ramírez-Silva ◽

Luisa E. Torres-Sánchez ◽

Cinthya E. Díaz-Benítez ◽

Yaneth C. Orbe-Orihuela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Relative Abundance ◽

Metabolic Disorders ◽

Cardiometabolic Risk ◽

Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽

High Tertile ◽

Fructose Intake ◽

Obesity And Diabetes ◽

Cardiometabolic Risk Markers ◽

Cardiometabolic Markers ◽

Analysis Models

In Mexico, 3 of 10 children are overweight. Fructose intake and relative abundance (RA) of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) in the intestinal microbiota are associated with obesity and diabetes in adults, but studies in children are limited. This study evaluates the association between fructose intake and L. reuteri RA with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk markers in Mexican children dietary information, microbiota profiles, adiposity indicators (Body Mass Index, BMI and Waste Circumference, WC), and cardiometabolic markers were analyzed in 1087 children aged 6–12 years. Linear regression and path analysis models were used. High-tertile fructose intake and L. reuteri RA were positively associated with BMI (βTertil 3 vs. Tertil 1 = 0.24 (95% CI, 0.04; 0.44) and βT3 vs. T1 = 0.52 (95% CI, 0.32; 0.72)) and WC (βT3 vs. T1 = 2.40 (95% CI, 0.93; 3.83) and βT3 vs. T1 = 3.40 (95% CI, 1.95; 4.90)), respectively. Also, these factors mediated by adiposity were positively correlated with high triglycerides and insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR (p ≤ 0.03) and negatively associated with HDL-C concentration (p < 0.01). High-tertile fructose intake and L. reuteri RA were directly associated with adiposity and indirectly associated though adiposity with metabolic disorders in children. In conclusion, fructose intake and L. reuteri RA were directly associated with adiposity and indirectly associated with metabolic disorders in children, mediated by adiposity.

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