Alterations in plasma acylcarnitine and amino acid profiles may indicate poor nutrition during the suckling period due to maternal intake of an unbalanced diet and may predict later metabolic dysfunction

Abstract

Plasma profiles of acylcarnitines (ACs) and amino acids (AAs) may have interest as potential biomarkers. Here we analyzed plasma AC and AA profiles in 2 rat models with different metabolic programming outcomes: offspring of dams fed a cafeteria diet during lactation (O-CAF, with a thin-outside-fat-inside phenotype) and the offspring of dams with diet-induced obesity subjected to dietary normalization before gestation (O-PCaf, nonaltered phenotype). The purpose was to identify early variables that might indicate a propensity for a dysmetabolic state. O-CAF rats presented higher circulating levels of most of the lipid-derived ACs and higher hepatic expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation ( Ppara and Cpt1a) than controls [offspring of control dams (O-C)]. They also exhibited an altered plasma AA profile. These differences were not observed in O-PCaf animals. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis score plot of the metabolomics data showed a clear separation between O-CAF and O-C animals. The long-chain ACs (C18, C18:1, C18:2, C16:1, and C16DC) and the AAs glycine, alanine, isoleucine, serine, and proline are the variables mainly influencing this separation. In summary, we have identified a cluster of ACs and AAs whose alterations may indicate poor nutrition during lactation due to maternal unbalanced diet intake and predict the later dysmetabolic phenotype observed in the offspring.-Pomar, C. A., Kuda, O., Kopecky, J., Rombaldova, M., Castro, H., Picó, C., Sánchez, J., Palou, A. Alterations in plasma acylcarnitine and amino acid profiles may be indicative of poor nutrition during the suckling period due to maternal intake of an unbalanced diet and predict later metabolic dysfunction.

Maternal Overfeeding during Lactation Impairs the Metabolic Response to Fed/Fasting Changing Conditions in the Postweaning Offspring

“…Moreover, we have previously reported that O‐CAF animals, but not O‐Pcaf animals, also display higher plasma levels of lipid‐derived acyl carnitine species after weaning . This was particularly evident under feeding conditions, and could be reflecting conditions of mitochondrial lipid overload due to the greater supply of lipids from breast milk . The presence of increased levels of certain acyl carnitines has also been reported in obese individuals, and proposed as a marker of metabolic inflexibility in adulthood .…”

“…In addition, considering that O‐CAF display hyperleptinemia, another potential explanation could be a defective response to leptin action regarding the AMPK system, as described in obese state . Moreover, we have previously reported that O‐CAF animals, but not O‐Pcaf animals, also display higher plasma levels of lipid‐derived acyl carnitine species after weaning . This was particularly evident under feeding conditions, and could be reflecting conditions of mitochondrial lipid overload due to the greater supply of lipids from breast milk .…”

Effects of maternal taurine supplementation on maternal dietary intake, plasma metabolites and fetal growth and development in cafeteria diet fed rats

“…In the current study, both CAF and CAFT dams displayed higher levels of serine and lower levels of tyrosine compared with control dams. Previous studies reported the effects of cafeteria diet on plasma amino acid concentrations with contradictory results ( Salvadó, Segués & Arola, 1991 ; Lladó et al, 1995 ; Pomar et al, 2019 ). Offspring suckled by cafeteria diet fed dams exhibited higher circulating levels of serine due to increased hepatic gluconeogenesis ( Pomar et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Previous studies reported the effects of cafeteria diet on plasma amino acid concentrations with contradictory results ( Salvadó, Segués & Arola, 1991 ; Lladó et al, 1995 ; Pomar et al, 2019 ). Offspring suckled by cafeteria diet fed dams exhibited higher circulating levels of serine due to increased hepatic gluconeogenesis ( Pomar et al, 2019 ). However, Salvadó, Segués & Arola (1991) demonstrated that serine concentrations was lower in the pups exposed to maternal cafeteria diet during lactation than in the control pups.…”

Profiles of Amino Acids and Acylcarnitines Related with Deltamethrin Resistance in Aedes Albopictus

“…Metabolomics could re ect systematic human metabolic variations in accordance with phenotypic changes, such as resistance to insulin [12] and trastuzumab [13]. Characteristic of amino acids and AcylCNs acylcarnitine pro le has become is a powerful and popular tool for diagnostic of clinical metabolic alterations [14][15][16][17][18]. However, little is known of the characteristic of amino acids and AcylCNs pro les in mosquitoes.…”