Maternal dietary folate and/or vitamin B₁₂ restrictions alter body composition (adiposity) and lipid metabolism in Wistar rat offspring

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2013, Vol.24 (1), p.25-31
• Main Authors: Kumar, Kalle Anand, Lalitha, Anumula, Pavithra, Dhandapani, Padmavathi, Inagadapa J.N, Ganeshan, Manisha, Rao, Kalashikam Rajender, Venu, Lagishetty, Balakrishna, Nagala, Shanker, Nemani Hari, Reddy, Singi Umakar, Chandak, Giriraj Ratan, Sengupta, Shantanu, Raghunath, Manchala
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - drug effects; adiposity; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Birth Weight; Body Composition - drug effects; diet; fatty-acid synthase; Female; folic acid; Folic Acid - pharmacology; interleukin-6; lactation; lipid metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; low birth weight; Male; males; morbidity; mortality; mothers; necrosis; Pregnancy; progeny; Rats; Rats, Wistar; visceral fat; Vitamin B 12 - pharmacology; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - metabolism; vitamin deficiencies; weaning
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.01.004

Maternal vitamin deficiencies are associated with low birth weight and increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. We hypothesize that maternal folate and/or vitamin B₁₂ restrictions alter body composition and fat metabolism in the offspring. Female weaning Wistar rats received ad libitum for 12 weeks a control diet (American Institute of Nutrition-76A) or the same with restriction of folate, vitamin B₁₂ or both (dual deficient) and, after confirming vitamin deficiency, were mated with control males. The pregnant/lactating mothers and their offspring received their respective diets throughout. Biochemical and body composition parameters were determined in mothers before mating and in offspring at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Vitamin restriction increased body weight and fat and altered lipid profile in female Wistar rats, albeit differences were significant with only B₁₂ restriction. Offspring born to vitamin-B₁₂-restricted dams had lower birth weight, while offspring of all vitamin-restricted dams weighed higher at/from weaning. They had higher body fat (specially visceral fat) from 3 months and were dyslipidemic at 12 months, when they had high circulating and adipose tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor α, leptin and interleukin 6 and low levels of adiponectin and interleukin 1β. Vitamin-restricted offspring had higher activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase and higher plasma cortisol levels. In conclusion, maternal and peri-/postnatal folate and/or vitamin B₁₂ restriction increased visceral adiposity (due to increased corticosteroid stress), altered lipid metabolism in rat offspring perhaps by modulating adipocyte function and may thus predispose them to high morbidity later.