Maternal diet, rather than obesity itself, has a main influence on milk triacylglycerol profile in dietary obese rats

Triacylglycerols (TG) in milk derive from different sources, and their composition may be influenced by both maternal diet and obesity. We used two rat models to ascertain potential changes in TG composition in milk associated to maternal intake of an obesogenic diet during lactation and to distinguish them from the effects attributable to maternal adiposity. Milk samples were obtained from dams fed a cafeteria diet during lactation (CAF) and from dams made obese by cafeteria diet feeding, with dietary normalization before gestation (PCaf). Levels of specific TG species in milk collected at different time points of lactation were determined by shotgun lipidomics. CAF and PCaf dams presented a greater adiposity than their respective controls. The principal component analysis of TG peaks showed a clear separation between milk from CAF dams and milk from control and Pcaf dams, already evident at 5 days of lactation. Milk from CAF dams was enriched with TG species with greater number of carbons and double bonds and reduced in TG with lower number of carbons. TG composition of milk from Pcaf dams was similar to controls, although specific differences were observed at day 5 of lactation. Thus, the intake of a cafeteria diet during lactation, rather than maternal adiposity, alters milk composition. This effect is avoided with dietary normalization before gestation, although the remaining fat reserves may also influence TG composition at initial stages of lactation. Therefore, normalization of maternal diet prior to pregnancy should be considered as a strategy for achieving optimal milk composition.