Long-term programming of lipid metabolism associated with genetic manipulation of beta-carotene supply and metabolism in the perinatal stage

Abstract

[eng] The perinatal stage is an essential window in determining metabolic programming. Perinatal nutrition influences future metabolic health and knowledge of dietary factors and mechanisms involved is of special interest for nutritional interventions. β-carotene (BC) is a carotenoid present to variable levels in human breast milk, best known because it functions in mammals as a precursor of vitamin A. This vitamin has an essential role during early embryonic development and is involved in lipid and energy metabolism regulation in adult animals. However, BC is thought to have additional biological roles. This FMW addresses the metabolic programming activity of BC per se, including a bibliographic and an experimental part. The practical part is based on an animal experiment that allows comparing the offspring of dams fed a BC diet during the second half of gestation and the lactation period for their responses to an obesogenic diet postweaning depending on the Bco1 genotype. Bco1 encodes the main enzyme involved in vitamin A production from BC. Results: As anticipated, accumulation of BC in plasma and tissues in the Bco1-/- offspring at weaning was found. HFD did not induce hepatic steatosis, but it did elevate adiposity metrics in all groups except Bco1-/- female. The differential response to the HFD in Bco1-/- extended to gene expression changes in rpWAT. For instance, adiposity marker genes tended to increase upon HFD feeding only in the Bco1-/- males. Principal component analysis also showed this effect. Conclusion: A BC-enriched maternal diet might offer unique protection to female offspring against diet-induced obesity, in an effect that might be independent of BC conversion to VA.