Abstract
In Japan, the childbearing age is increasing in line with changes in the social system, and as such, the incidence of diabetic-complicated pregnancies and gestational diabetes are also increasing. In the intrauterine environment of diabetic mothers, a high concentration of blood glucose passing through the placenta causes the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) through excessive protein glycation reactions. AGEs induce oxidative stress and inflammation through their receptors, resulting in insulin resistance and other related disorders. This is thought to result in signaling disorders, such as insulin resistance, in various organs of the fetus. Signaling disorders at the fetal stage have been shown to be closely associated with the development of future diseases in the child. Our studies using experimental animal and cell models and the latest findings on the molecular mechanisms of the effects of AGEs in the intrauterine hyperglycemic environment on the fetus will be presented. We will also introduce the importance of exploratory research on the development of functional foods for primary prevention, as the use of oral hypoglycemic drugs other than insulin is not permitted for the treatment of insulin resistance in pregnant women in Japan.
