Effect of Maternal Severe Dietary Restriction during Early Gestation on the Body Composition in Pups Rats After Birth

Abstract

Recently, slim young women are increasing in Japan. On the other hand, low birth weight babies are also increasing. In 1993, Barker et al. published highly influential hypothesis indicating a relation between low birth weight and increased risk of developing symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. The low birth weight child has catch-up growth afterwards. Catch-up growth is associated with adulthood obesity in mice as well as in humans. We examined the influence that the dietary restriction group of the early pregnancy gave to body composition of the first day after birth. Control group which was permitted free access to food throughout the gestation and lactation periods. Dietary restricted group which was permitted to intake 50% of the consumption had by the control group during early gestation. Body weight of male pups was larger in dietary restriction group than in control group at first day of birth. And, body fat of male pups from the dietary restriction group was lower than that of the control group. It was suggested that the body weight and body fat of the pups of the dietary restriction group during the fetus period was more increased than the control group. As a result, it is suggested that catch-up growth happens more for the fetus period.