The impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on fertility, maternal and child health outcomes: a review of human and animal studies.

There is significant evidence that an unhealthy diet greatly increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction and obesity. While fat intake is typically associated with the onset of obesity and its comorbidities, there is increasing evidence linking sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup, to the global rise in obesity rates. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of added sugar intake during pregnancy on mother and child have been clearly outlined.

Developmentally programmed obesity: Is there a role for anti-inflammatory nutritional strategies?

Pregnancy represents a period of immense maternal physiological adaptation, with progressive increases in lipid storage potential and insulin resistance to support fetal/placental growth. This requires significant change in the adipose tissue. Women living with obesity/overweight are more susceptible to these changes causing complications such as gestational diabetes.

Maternal Intake of Either Fructose or the Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K Results in Differential and Sex-Specific Alterations in Markers of Skin Inflammation and Wound Healing Responsiveness in Mouse Offspring: A Pilot Study.

Growing evidence has demonstrated that maternal artificial sweetener (AS) consumption may not be a beneficial alternative when compared to sugar-sweetened beverages and potentially leads to metabolic dysfunction in adult offspring. Compromised skin integrity and wound healing associated with type 2 diabetes can lead to complications such as diabetic pressure injury (PI). In this context, the skin plays an important role in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis, yet there is limited information on the influence of sugar- or AS-sweetened beverages during pregnancy on developmental programming and offspring skin homeostasis.

Fish oil supplementation of rats fed a high fat diet during pregnancy improves offspring insulin sensitivity.

Introduction: In rats, a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) leads to adverse metabolic changes in the adult offspring, similar to the children of mothers with obesity during pregnancy. Supplementation with a high dose of fish oil (FO) to pregnant rats fed a HFD has been shown to prevent the development of insulin resistance in adult offspring. However, the effects of supplementation at a translationally relevant dose remain unknown.

The Impact of Non-caloric Sweeteners on Male Fertility: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis in Rodent Models.

Understanding the factors which influence fertility is essential for developing appropriate nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive. Non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) are increasing in the food chain and despite being no/low calorie, several adverse metabolic consequences have been attributed to their consumption. Their effects on reproduction have been relatively under-researched, particularly in males.

Toxicity of oxidized fish oil in pregnancy: a dose-response study in rats.

Fish oil (FO) supplements are consumed during pregnancy to increase dietary omega-3. However, FO is often oxidized past recommended limits. In rats, a large dose of highly oxidized FO substantially increased newborn mortality, but the effects of human-relevant doses of less oxidized oil are unknown.

Maternal intake of fructose or artificial sweetener during pregnancy and lactation has persistent effects on metabolic and reproductive health of dams post-weaning.

As rates of obesity, diabetes, and related comorbidities have increased, the consumption of artificial sweeteners (ASs) as sugar substitutes has also risen in popularity as they are perceived as a healthier alternative to sugar sweetened products. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the impact of AS intake on metabolic and reproductive health. Glucose intolerance during pregnancy due to intake of sugar sweetened foods can result in an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes post-pregnancy.

Impact of Maternal Intake of Artificial Sweetener, Acesulfame-K, on Metabolic and Reproductive Health Outcomes in Male and Female Mouse Offspring.

Guidelines advising pregnant women to avoid food and beverages with high fat and sugar have led to an increase in the consumption of "diet" options sweetened by artificial sweeteners (AS). Yet, there is limited information regarding the impact of AS intake during pregnancy on the long-term risk of cardiometabolic and reproductive complications in adult offspring. This study examined the influence of maternal acesulfame-K (Ace-K) and fructose consumption on metabolic and reproductive outcomes in offspring.

Metabolic Hormone Profiles in Breast Milk From Mothers of Moderate-Late Preterm Infants Are Associated With Growth From Birth to 4 Months in a Sex-Specific Manner.

Differing environmental conditions experienced by mother-infant dyads may influence composition of the milk received by the infant. As a consequence, diverse milk compositional profiles may contribute to different postnatal outcomes, especially in infants facing adverse perinatal environments. We investigated whether variability in milk concentrations of key metabolic hormones is associated with different growth outcomes in infants born preterm, a perinatal complication known to impact on infant growth.

Maternal exercise alters rat fetoplacental stress response: Minimal effects of maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding.

Introduction: Fetal growth restriction complicates 10% of pregnancies and increases offspring (F1) risk of metabolic disorders, including obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This disease predisposition can be passed onto the next generation (F2). Importantly, the risk of pregnancy complications in obese women can be exacerbated by a stressful pregnancy.

Growth Factor Concentrations in Human Milk Are Associated With Infant Weight and BMI From Birth to 5 Years.

Human milk bioactives may play a role in infant health and development. Although the variability in their concentrations in milk is well-established, the impact of differential milk profiles on infant growth outcomes remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether different concentrations of metabolic hormones are associated with different weight and BMI in infants beyond the first year of life.

Preterm human milk: associations between perinatal factors and hormone concentrations throughout lactation.

Background: Infants born moderate to late preterm constitute the majority of preterm births, yet guidelines for their nutritional care are unclear. Maternal milk is the most appropriate nutrition for these infants; however, its composition can be influenced by environmental factors. The present study therefore investigated perinatal predictors of human milk composition in a preterm cohort.

Interleukin 1 Receptor 1 Knockout and Maternal High Fat Diet Exposure Induces Sex-Specific Effects on Adipose Tissue Adipogenic and Inflammatory Gene Expression in Adult Mouse Offspring.

The global incidence of obesity continues to rise, increasing the prevalence of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Low-grade chronic inflammation, associated with the obese state, also contributes to the development of these metabolic comorbidities. Interleukin-1-receptor-1 (IL-1R1), a pro-inflammatory mediator, bridges the metabolic and inflammatory systems.

Consumption of the Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame Potassium throughout Pregnancy Induces Glucose Intolerance and Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Mice.

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with metabolic dysfunction. Artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) are often promoted as an alternative. However, evidence for the safety of ASB consumption during pregnancy is lacking.

Sexually Dimorphic Associations between Maternal Factors and Human Milk Hormonal Concentrations.

While human milk composition is characterised by marked dynamicity, we are far from having a clear picture of what factors drive this variation. Hormones in human milk are known to vary according to specific maternal phenotypes, but limited evidence shows the infant also has a role in determining milk composition. The present study aimed to investigate the interplay between maternal and infant characteristics in relation to human milk hormonal profile.

Cyclic glycine-proline normalizes systolic blood pressure in high-fat diet-induced obese male rats.

Background And Aims: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 deficiency is associated with a range of metabolic disorders. Cyclic glycine-proline (cGP) is a natural nutrient and regulates the amount of active IGF-1 in plasma. Plasma cGP decreases in hypertensive women whereas increases in obese women, suggesting its involvement in cardio-metabolic function.

Interleukin-1 Receptor-1 Deficiency Impairs Metabolic Function in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Female Mice.

Scope: Glucose intolerance during pregnancy is associated with short- and long-term maternal and offspring health consequences. In young male mice, knockout of the major pro-inflammatory mediator interleukin-1-receptor-1 (IL1R1) protects against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance and metabolic dysfunction. This phenotype has not been examined during pregnancy.

Feasibility of Standardized Human Milk Collection in Neonatal Care Units.

Research in human lactation is a growing field. However, difficulties in studying human milk originate from the dynamicity of its composition. Using standardized collection protocols is mandatory to minimize variation and warrant comparability of findings across different studies.

Nutritional Supplementation for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose Of Review: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication that has short- and long-term health implications for both the mother and child. While lifestyle modifications, insulin therapy, and oral agents such as metformin are effective, they can be difficult to adhere to, and there remain concerns over long-term effects of oral agents on the infant. Further, GDM has no proven preventive strategies, which could be more effective than treatment postdiagnosis.

Preclinical Models of Altered Early Life Nutrition and Development of Reproductive Disorders in Female Offspring.

Early epidemiology studies in humans have and continue to offer valuable insight into the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, which emphasises the importance of early-life nutritional and environmental changes on the increased risk of metabolic and reproductive disease in later life. Human studies are limited and constrained by a range of factors which do not apply to preclinical research. Animal models therefore offer a unique opportunity to fully investigate the mechanisms associated with developmental programming, helping to elucidate the developmental processes which influence reproductive diseases, and highlight potential biomarkers which can be translated back to the human condition.

The Pathophysiology of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious pregnancy complication, in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes develop chronic hyperglycemia during gestation. In most cases, this hyperglycemia is the result of impaired glucose tolerance due to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction on a background of chronic insulin resistance. Risk factors for GDM include overweight and obesity, advanced maternal age, and a family history or any form of diabetes.