Reprogramming Effects of Postbiotic Butyrate and Propionate on Maternal High-Fructose Diet-Induced Offspring...

Area of Science:

• Developmental programming
• Metabolic disorders
• Gut microbiome research

Background:

• Maternal nutrition significantly influences offspring's long-term health and disease risk.
• Excessive maternal fructose consumption is linked to hypertension in offspring.
• The gut microbiota and its metabolites (postbiotics) are increasingly recognized for their role in hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if maternal butyrate or propionate supplementation can prevent hypertension in offspring exposed to a high-fructose diet.
• To explore the effects of these postbiotics on metabolic and microbial profiles.

Main Methods:

• A rat model using a maternal high-fructose (HF) diet during gestation and lactation.
• Groups included regular chow (ND), HF diet, HF diet with butyrate (HFB), and HF diet with propionate (HFP).
• Offspring were assessed at 12 weeks for blood pressure and metabolic/microbial markers.

Main Results:

• Maternal HF diet led to offspring hypertension, which was prevented by perinatal butyrate or propionate.
• Both supplements increased specific short-chain fatty acids in offspring plasma.
• Butyrate impacted trimethylamine N-oxide and nitric oxide pathways; propionate altered specific gut bacterial genera.

Conclusions:

• Perinatal administration of butyrate or propionate can protect against hypertension programmed by maternal high-fructose intake.
• Targeting the gut microbiota with postbiotics offers a promising strategy for preventing diet-induced hypertension.
• Findings suggest potential for clinical translation in managing maternal diet-related health risks.