Int J Endocrinol, 2016, 2016:9242319. doi: 10.1155/2016/9242319.

Maternal Diet Supplementation with n-6/n-3 Essential Fatty Acids in a 1.2 : 1.0 Ratio Attenuates Metabolic Dysfunction in MSG-Induced Obese Mice.

Martin, JM. Miranda, RA. Barella, LF. Palma-Rigo, K et al.

Key Findings

In this study, a perinatal diet supplemented with a mixture of n-6/n-3 fatty acids in a ratio of 1.2 : 1.0 supplied to lean dams, throughout pregnancy and lactation, attenuated the onset of obesity in offspring treated with MSG during the first 5 days of life. in addition, metabolic alterations, pancreatic islets dysfunction, and glucose intolerance, were restored in MSG-obese mice whose mothers were exposed to fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. The MSG-obesity model is characterized by high fasting insulinemia, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance. The high incorporation of n-3 and low n-6 essential fatty acids into pancreatic tissue from weaned mice, induced by a flax-diet, may be implicated in programming amelioration of pancreatic function in MSG-treated mice. The data indicate that PUFAs are able to induce programming in the offspring that provides a certain resistance against metabolic deterioration. The authors suggest that early dietary supplementation with n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in a ratio of 1.2 : 1.0 may be used for protection against metabolic dysfunctions.

ABSTRACT

Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevent cardiometabolic diseases. We aimed to study whether a diet supplemented with a mixture of n-6/n-3 PUFAs, during perinatal life, attenuates outcomes of long-term metabolic dysfunction in prediabetic and obese mice. Seventy-day-old virgin female mice were mated. From the conception day, dams were fed a diet supplemented with sunflower oil and flaxseed powder (containing an n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio of 1.2 : 1.0) throughout pregnancy and lactation, while control dams received a commercial diet. Newborn mice were treated with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG, 4 mg g-1 body weight per day) for the first 5 days of age. A batch of weaned pups was sacrificed to quantify the brain and pancreas total lipids; another batch were fed a commercial diet until 90 days of age, where glucose homeostasis and glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS) as well as retroperitoneal fat and Lee index were assessed. MSG-treated mice developed obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, pancreatic islet dysfunction, and higher fat stores. Maternal flaxseed diet-supplementation decreased n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio in the brain and pancreas and blocked glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, GIIS impairment, and obesity development. The n-6/n-3 essential PUFAs in a ratio of 1.2 : 1.0 supplemented in maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation prevent metabolic dysfunction in MSG-obesity model.

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