Maternal dietary fat type influences the growth and fatty acid composition of newborn and weanling rats.
To determine whether the long-term consumption of different amounts or types of fat by female rats affects the growth and development of their progeny, Wistar rats were fed from weaning either a low fat diet (4.5% by weight) or one of three high fat (32%) diets containing predominantly beef tallow (high saturated fat), corn oil (high polyunsaturated fat) or equal portions of tallow and corn oil (high mixed fat). Offspring were killed at birth or weaning. Weight of newborn pups was lower with maternal consumption of high polyunsaturated fat diets. Carcass composition of newborn pups and body weight of weanling rats was unaffected by maternal diet. The percentage of carcass lipid was greater in weanling rats from all high fat-fed dams. In both newborn pups and weanling rats, percent composition in carcass lipids of 16:0, 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acids generally decreased and 18:2 increased as the high fat maternal diet became more unsaturated. The consumption of diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids prior to and throughout gestation thus seemed to have a transitory effect on reducing fetal growth in rats.
Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
D B
DB
Hausman
H M
HM
McCloskey
R J
RJ
Martin
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014886:Weaning
D004041:Dietary Fats