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The beneficial effect of fiber supplementation in high- or low-fat diets on fetal development and antioxidant defense capacity in the rat

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Abstract

Background

There is mounting evidence that an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant activities plays a pivotal role in fetal development.

Aim of the study

To determine the effects of maternal intake of fat and fiber on fetal intrauterine development and antioxidant defense systems of rats.

Methods

Virgin female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups according to diet: the low-fat, low-fiber group (LL); the low-fat, high-fiber group (LH); the high-fat, low-fiber group (HL); and the high-fat, high-fiber group (HH). The diets were fed 4 weeks prior to breeding through day 17.5 of pregnancy. Dietary intakes of fiber (wheat bran and oat) and fat were quantitatively varied, while intakes of energy and essential nutrients were kept constant among the diets.

Results

Rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly improved fetal numbers, as well as enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and capacity of scavenging free radicals (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the placental malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were affected by the diet fat and fiber levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the LL group, the mRNA abundance of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and thioredoxin-2 (Trx2) in the maternal liver and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in the placenta and fetus were significantly downregulated in the HL group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly upregulated mRNA expressions of Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and HIF-1α in the maternal liver (p < 0.05); Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the placenta (p < 0.05); and Cu,Zn-SOD in the fetus (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

When energy intakes are equivalent, consumption of fiber in high- or low-fat diets benefits fetal development and growth, through improvements in maternal, placental, and fetal antioxidant defense capacities.

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Acknowledgments

The present research was supported by the Educational Commission of Sichuan Province of China (09ZB056) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31072044). All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, and Animal Nutrition Institute of Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, 625014, China

    Yan Lin, Xing-fa Han, Zheng-feng Fang, Lian-qiang Che, De Wu, Xiu-qun Wu & Cai-mei Wu

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  1. Yan Lin
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Correspondence to De Wu.

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Lin, Y., Han, Xf., Fang, Zf. et al. The beneficial effect of fiber supplementation in high- or low-fat diets on fetal development and antioxidant defense capacity in the rat. Eur J Nutr 51, 19–27 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0185-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0185-4

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