UNESCO Code: 2403 / 2415
Keywords:
Fructose, Nutrigenomics, Fetal Programming, Metabolic Syndrome, Epigenetics
Relevant characteristics of the research group (description of the group's activity):
Multiple studies have shown how metabolic changes that are produced during the pre and postnatal development of the individual set the risk of suffering from illnesses in their adult life. This phenomenom is called fetal programming and, among other causes, the most significant cause is the mother's nutrition.
The metabolic syndrome is a group of alterations which increase the risk of suffering from cardiovascular illnesses, neurovascular accident or type 2 diabetes. The alterations are the following:
- insulin resistance
- excess of abdominal fat (obesity)
- dislipdemia (abnormal levels of cholesterol or triglycerides)
- oxidative stress
- esteaosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD)
- inflammation
- high blood pressure
The frustose is a carbohydrate present in sweeteners such as sacarose or corn syrup rich in fructose. The fructose consume per caita has increased 100 times within the last century. Epidemiologic studies suggest that the excesive consume of fructose is linked to the metabolic syndrome.
Despite all these precedents, the consume of drinks or food high in added fructose is not forbidden during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Nevertheless, we have observed that maternal consumption of 10% liquid fructose, similar in content to soft drinks, induces changes typical of metabolic syndrome in offspring:
Both in the perinatal period:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.02.011
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201600193
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081935
And during the adult life:
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0886-1
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.02.013
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.08.011
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.103676
Thsi way, we have an "animal model of fetal programming" in which the characteristics of the metabolic syndrime are shown in descendants, exposing the relevance of maternal nutrition as it influences the health of her descendants.
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