Influence of Japanese diet consumption during pregnancy and lactation on lipid metabolism in offspring.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that obesity is rare among those who consume the Japanese diet because of its lower caloric content compared with the American diet. Meanwhile, it has been reported that maternal caloric restriction, which induces antiobesity effects, during pregnancy and lactation increases the likelihood of a low birthweight infant, which increases the risks for obesity and diabetes later in life. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of maternal consumption of the Japanese diet during pregnancy and lactation on the risk for obesity and diabetes in the offspring later in life.

METHODS: Pregnant mice were divided into three groups and fed either a control diet, Western diet, or Japanese diet, and their offspring were raised until 7 wk old.

RESULTS: Examinations of 18-d-old and 7-wk-old offspring showed no effect of consistently eating a Japanese diet during pregnancy and lactation on the health conditions of 18-d-old offspring, but 7-wk-old offspring showed a decrease in visceral fat and liver triacylglycerol levels. In addition, 7-wk-old offspring from mothers who consumed the Japanese diet during pregnancy and lactation showed a decrease in the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and a reduced risk for developing diabetes. This tendency was also confirmed in 18-d-old offspring. Evaluation of the mechanism revealed that fatty acid synthesis in the liver of the offspring was suppressed by the mother's consumption of the Japanese diet.

CONCLUSION: From these results, maternal consumption of the Japanese diet during pregnancy and lactation did not adversely affect the offspring, and continual intake of this diet reduced the risk for developing obesity and diabetes in the offspring later in life.