Beneficial effects of dietary omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on offspring brain development in gestational diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids leukotrienes and essential fatty acids, 2024-03, Vol.202, p.102632, Article 102632
• Main Authors: Kemse, Nisha, Chhetri, Sunaina, Joshi, Sadhana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Brain - drug effects; Brain - growth & development; Brain - metabolism; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Cognition; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein - genetics; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein - metabolism; DHA; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Diabetes, Gestational - metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Female; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Male; Neurotrophins; Omega 3 fatty acids; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptor, trkB - genetics; Receptor, trkB - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2024.102632

•High glucose levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) dams.•GDM induction marginally lowered docosahexaenoic acid levels in offspring brain.•The offspring of GDM dams showed impaired cognition at 3 months of age.•Supplementing omega 3 fatty acids improved docosahexaenoic acid and glucose levels.•Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation improved cognition. Various mechanisms through which maternal diet influences offspring brain development in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unclear. We speculate that prenatal omega 3 fatty acids will improve the levels of brain neurotrophins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenic factor leading to improved cognitive performance in the offspring. GDM was induced in Wistar rats using streptozotocin. They were assigned to either control, GDM or GDM+O (GDM + omega-3 fatty acid supplementation). The offspring were followed till 3 mo of age and cognitive assessment was undertaken. Data analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA followed by LSD test. GDM induction increased (p < 0.01) dam glucose levels and lowered brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels (p = 0.056) in the offspring at birth. At 3 months, GDM group showed significantly lower levels of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (NTRK-2) and VEGF, lower mRNA levels of NTRK-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) (P < 0.05 for all) as compared to control. The GDM offspring had a higher escape latency (p < 0.01), made lesser % correct choices and more errors (p < 0.05 for both). Prenatal supplementation with omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was beneficial since it ameliorated some of the adverse effects of GDM.