title: Short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-energy diet ad libitum during gestation and/or lactation on physiological parameters of mothers and male offspring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-energy diet ad libitum during gestation and/or lactation on mothers and their offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups according to their mother's diet: control [C (19.0% protein, 63.0% carbohydrates and 18.0% lipids, total energetic value (TEV) = 3.5 kcal/g) during gestation and lactation], low-energy diet (18% protein, 64% carbohydrates and 18% lipids, TEV = 2.3 kcal/g) during gestation (LE-G), low-energy diet during lactation (LE-L) and low-energy diet during gestation and lactation (LE-GL). Additional crude fibers (10% more purified cellulose and soluble fiber) and water (approximately 30% greater moisture) were added to the LE diet to decrease TEV. Mother's body weight, food intake and energy intake were recorded daily. Birth weight, growth rate, ontogeny of reflexes, physical features and biochemical parameters at 150 days old were evaluated in male offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal low-energy diet during gestation did not affect maternal body weight and food intake. Physical features did not change but reflex ontogeny was delayed in pups from LE dams. LE-G offspring recovered body size (weight and length) while animals LE-L and LE-GL recovered their body length but remained lighter until adult life even with no change of food intake. LE-G and LE-GL showed lower plasma triglycerides and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL). LE-L offspring showed hypertriglyceridemia, high VLDL-c and reduced glycaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal low-energy diet shows discernible short- and long-term effects on offspring, and this is dependent on the time of perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cláudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alheiros-Lira
authors.forename: Luciana Lima
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Natália Giovana Viana
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Erika Maria Santos
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Taisy Cinthia Ferro
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Gisélia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Santana Muniz
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Carol Góis
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leandro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides