OBJECTIVEWe investigated the relationship between maternal circulating fatty acids (FAs) and dietary FA intake in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM; n = 49), women with hyperglycemia less severe than GDM (impaired glucose challenge test [GCT] non-GDM; n = 80), and normal control subjects (n = 98).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA case-control design was nested within a prospective cohort of healthy pregnant women. Fasting concentrations of serum total FAs (enzymatic assay) and FA composition (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) were determined at entry and the third trimester. Dietary fat intake data were obtained from 24-h recalls.RESULTSThere was a graded increase among groups (control subjects, impaired GCT non-GDM, and GDM) during the third trimester for total FAs and individual FAs, including myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids (P for trend <0.03 to P < 0.001). Similar relationships were observed at entry in total FAs and for four FAs (myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, and eicosapentaenoic acids). Women with impaired GCT non-GDM with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 had the highest levels of FAs at entry, whereas women with GDM with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 had the highest levels during the third trimester, and all grouped FAs were significantly different from lean women with impaired GCT non-GDM or control subjects (P < 0.05). Dietary intake of polyunsaturated FAs was decreased, but saturated FAs were increased in GDM compared with impaired GCT non-GDM or control subjects (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSAbnormalities in fat metabolism are present in both GDM and impaired GCT non-GDM women. Reducing pregravid weight and altering diet might prevent the associated elevation of circulating FAs.

The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to measure human energy expenditure (EE) during spaceflight on a shuttle mission by using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method; 2) to determine whether the astronauts were in negative energy balance during spaceflight; 3) to use the comparison of change in body fat as measured by the intake DLW EE,18O dilution, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to validate the DLW method for spaceflight; and 4) to compare EE during spaceflight against that found with bed rest. Two experiments were conducted: a flight experiment ( n = 4) on the 16-day 1996 life and microgravity sciences shuttle mission and a 6° head-down tilt bed rest study with controlled dietary intake ( n = 8). The bed rest study was designed to simulate the flight experiment and included exercise. Two EE determinations were done before flight (bed rest), during flight (bed rest), and after flight (recovery). Energy intake and N balance were monitored for the entire period. Results were that body weight, water, fat, and energy balance were unchanged with bed rest. For the flight experiment, decreases in weight (2.6 ± 0.4 kg, P < 0.05) and N retention (−2.37 ± 0.45 g N/day, P < 0.05) were found. Dietary intake for the four astronauts was reduced in flight (3,025 ± 180 vs. 1,943 ± 179 kcal/day, P < 0.05). EE in flight was 3,320 ± 155 kcal/day, resulting in a negative energy balance of 1,355 ± 80 kcal/day (−15.7 ± 1.0 kcal ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ day−1, P < 0.05). This corresponded to a loss of 2.1 ± 0.4 kg body fat, which was within experimental error of the fat loss determined by18O dilution (−1.4 ± 0.5 kg) and DEXA (−2.4 ± 0.4 kg). All three methods showed no change in body fat with bed rest. In conclusion, 1) the DLW method for measuring EE during spaceflight is valid, 2) the astronauts were in severe negative energy balance and oxidized body fat, and 3) in-flight energy (E) requirements can be predicted from the equation: E = 1.40 × resting metabolic rate + exercise.

Increased urinary excretion of isoprostane and decreased antioxidant production is an imbalance that is consistent with oxidative stress, and it precedes clinical recognition of preeclampsia. The maternal diet is an underlying factor that provides an environment for free radical generation.

Human spaceflight is associated with a loss of body protein. Bed rest studies suggest that the reduction in the whole body protein synthesis (PS) rate should be ∼15%. The objectives of this experiment were to test two hypotheses on astronauts and cosmonauts during long-duration (>3 mo) flights on MIR: that 1) the whole body PS rate will be reduced and 2) dietary intake and the PS rate should be increased postflight because protein accretion is occurring. The15N glycine method was used for measuring whole body PS rate before, during, and after long-duration spaceflight on the Russian space station MIR. Dietary intake was measured together with the protein kinetics. Results show that subjects lost weight during flight (4.64 ± 1.0 kg, P < 0.05). Energy intake was decreased inflight (2,854 ± 268 vs. 2,145 ± 190 kcal/day, n = 6, P < 0.05), as was the PS rate (226 ± 24 vs. 97 ± 11 g protein/day, n = 6, P < 0.01). The reduction in PS correlated with the reduction in energy intake ( r 2 = 0.86, P < 0.01, n = 6). Postflight energy intake and PS returned to, but were not increased over, the preflight levels. We conclude that the reduction in PS found was greater than predicted from ground-based bed rest experiments because of the shortfall in dietary intake. The expected postflight anabolic state with increases in dietary intake and PS did not occur during the first 2 wk after landing.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether oxidative stress early in pregnancy influenced pregnancy outcome. A combination of assays were used for exogenous and endogenous anti-oxidants together with two well accepted biomarkers for oxidative stress, the urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) (a biomarker marker for lipid oxidation, n=508) and 8-oxo-7,8 dihydro-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a biomarker for DNA oxidation, n=487). The two biomarkers tracked different pregnancy outcomes. Isoprostanes were associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and a decreased proportion of female births. In contrast, 8-OHdG tracked lower infant birthweight and shortened gestation duration. Birth defects were associated with low levels of 8-OHdG.

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is one of the most important antioxidant enzymes in humans. We studied the relationship between erythrocyte GPx activity and fasting serum insulin, plasma glucose, and C-peptide, estimates of insulin resistance from the homeostasis model of assessment as well as dietary fat intake in 408 normotensive nondiabetic pregnant women from Camden, NJ. GPx activity and the metabolic parameters were determined at entry to care (16 wk of pregnancy) and during the third trimester. GPx activity and the levels of insulin resistance increased significantly between entry and the third trimester. Statistically significant associations, all positive, were observed between GPx activity and fasting insulin (beta = 0.009, P < 0.001), glucose (beta = 0.975, P < 0.05), C-peptide (beta = 1.537, P < 0.01), and insulin resistance from the homeostasis model of assessment (beta = 0.209, P < 0.01). Dietary intakes of fat and polyunsaturated fatty acids were positively correlated with GPx activity as well. African Americans had significantly higher GPx activity, dietary fat, and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake than Hispanics and Caucasians. In conclusion, we demonstrated that normal pregnancy is associated with increased GPx activity and insulin resistance. There are ethnic differences in antioxidant response and dietary fat intake. Our findings suggest a potential link among antioxidant defenses, insulin resistance, and dietary fat intake.

Human spaceflight is associated with a loss of body protein. To investigate this problem, dietary intake, nitrogen balance, the whole body protein, and fibrinogen protein synthesis rates were measured on the crews of two Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS) shuttle missions before, during, and after spaceflight. The first mission, SLS-1, lasted 9.5 days, and the second, SLS-2, lasted 15 days. The 15N-glycine method was used for the protein synthesis measurements. The following results were obtained. 1) There was a rapid decline in weight for the first 5 days and then the body weight appeared to stabilize. 2) The mean energy intake preflight was 39.0 +/- 2.5 kcal x kg-1 x day-1 (n = 10). There was a sharp drop in dietary intake on flight day 1, with recovery by the second day, and then energy intake was constant at 30.4 +/- 1.5 kcal x kg-1 x day-1 (n = 12) for the remainder of the flight period (P < 0.05). 3) Nitrogen retention was decreased during flight, with the magnitude of the decrease lessening toward the end of the mission. The daily mean nitrogen balance changed from 58 +/- 9 mg x kg-1 x day-1 (n = 9) preflight to 16 +/- 3 mg N x kg-1 x day-1; P < 0.05; n = 11) in flight, corresponding to a loss of approximately 1 kg of lean body mass over 14 days. 4) Whole body protein synthesis was increased early in flight and on recovery, as was fibrinogen synthesis. We conclude that 1) the rapid readjustment and stabilization of energy intake and the improved nitrogen retention with increasing flight duration are consistent with a rapid metabolic accommodation to the novel environment; and that 2) the increased protein turnover indicates that a metabolic stress response is an important factor in this adjustment process.

The objectives of this study were to assess oxidant damage during and after spaceflight and to compare the results against bed rest with 6 degrees head-down tilt. We measured the urinary excretion of the F(2) isoprostane, 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha), and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OH DG) before, during, and after long-duration spaceflight (4-9 mo) on the Russian space station MIR, short-duration spaceflight on the shuttle, and 17 days of bed rest. Sample collections on MIR were obtained between 88 and 186 days in orbit. 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and 8-OH DG are markers for oxidative damage to membrane lipids and DNA, respectively. Data are mean +/- SE. On MIR, isoprostane levels were decreased inflight (96. 9 +/- 11.6 vs. 76.7 +/- 14.9 ng. kg(-1). day(-1), P < 0.05, n = 6) due to decreased dietary intake secondary to impaired thermoregulation. Isoprostane excretion was increased postflight (245.7 +/- 55.8 ng. kg(-1). day(-1), P < 0.01). 8-OH DG excretion was unchanged with spaceflight and increased postflight (269 +/- 84 vs 442 +/- 180 ng. kg(-1). day(-1), P < 0.05). On the shuttle, 8-OH DG excretion was unchanged in- and postflight, but 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) excretion was decreased inflight (15.6 +/- 4.3 vs 8.0 +/- 2.7 ng. kg(-1). day(-1), P < 0.05). No changes were found with bed rest, but 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) was increased during the recovery phase (48.9 +/- 23.0 vs 65.4 +/- 28.3 ng. kg(-1). day(-1), P < 0.05). The changes in isoprostane production were attributed to decreased production of oxygen radicals from the electron transport chain due to the reduced energy intake inflight. The postflight increases in the excretion of the products of oxidative damage were attributed to a combination of an increase in metabolic activity and the loss of some host antioxidant defenses inflight. We conclude that 1) oxidative damage was decreased inflight, and 2) oxidative damage was increased postflight.