Maternal High-Fat Diet Controls Offspring Kidney Health and Disease

Abstract

A balanced diet during gestation is critical for fetal development, and excessive intake of saturated fats during gestation and lactation is related to an increased risk of offspring kidney disease. Emerging evidence indicates that a maternal high-fat diet influences kidney health and disease of the offspring via so-called renal programming. This review summarizes preclinical research documenting the connection between a maternal high-fat diet during gestation and lactation and offspring kidney disease, as well as the molecular mechanisms behind renal programming, and early-life interventions to offset adverse programming processes. Animal models indicate that offspring kidney health can be improved via perinatal polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation, gut microbiota changes, and modulation of nutrient-sensing signals. These findings reinforce the significance of a balanced maternal diet for the kidney health of offspring.

Effects of maternal advanced lipoxidation end products diet on the glycolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in offspring mice

“…It is known that the maternal nutrition and intrauterine environment play a key role in the development of metabolic disease in offspring ( 5 ). Recent studies on the underlying mechanisms of this programming effect have found that maternal diets can affect insulin and glucose metabolism, energy balance, cardiovascular function, and obesity in offspring ( 6 , 7 ). In addition, there is evidence that changes in epigenetic marks are one mechanism that could account for such long-term effects, as they affect gene expression and thus shape the phenotype of the organism ( 8 ).…”