Energy Intake Equalization During Pregnancy of Obese Mothers: Efects on the Maternal Energy Balance and Fetal Development

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The effects of maternal obesity on fetal development are controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of energy intake equalization during pregnancy on the maternal energy balance and fetal development. METHODS: Female rats were mated 30 days following the bilateral lesion of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) divided into three groups: CONTROL (C) – false lesionated (sham) fed ad libitum; OBESE (OB) - lesionated fed ad libitum; OBESE PAIR-FED (OBP) - lesionated fed on the equalized C ingestion. Cesarean was made on the 20th day of pregnancy. Maternal and pups carcass, feces and food were submitted to calorimetric measurement for energy balance determination. Body composition and plasmatic levels of hormones and lipids were determined. Body weight, food intake and fat content were increased in obese animals following experimental lesion of the VMH. RESULTS: During pregnancy, obese animals showed higher metabolizable energy intake and energy expenditure compared to the control and pair-fed animals, in which food-equalization reduced net body weight gain, metabolizable energy intake, energy gain, and gross food efficiency, compared to control and obese animals. Maternal obesity did not alter hormone and lipid profiles, body weight, energy content and body composition of the offspring, except for a reduction of lipid content in OBP newborns. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that at birth the fetuses were preserved of deleterious effects of maternal obesity. Hence, unlike the expected, caloric equalization imposed during the gestational period to previously obese pregnant seems to exert negative effects on the offspring.