Studies on the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases caused by fetal undernutrition through the control of the intestinal flora

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05862
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Hirai Shizuka 千葉大学, 大学院園芸学研究院, 准教授 (90432343)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 胎生期低栄養 / 糖質制限 / 腸内細菌叢 / 肥満 / 糖代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the possibility that intestinal flora may be involved in the improving effect of carbohydrate restriction during pregnancy in mice on obesity and glucose metabolism in the next generation. The intestinal flora in the pups immediately after weaning in the carbohydrate-restricted group formed a cluster that was significantly different from that in the control group. Furthermore, when these intestinal flora was transplanted into germ-free mice and fed with a high-fat diet, a significant decrease in body weight and visceral fat weight was observed in the carbohydrate-restricted group compared with the control group. Plasma glucose level during oral glucose tolerance test was also significantly decreased in the carbohydrate-restricted group. These results suggest that changes in the intestinal flora mediate the improving effects of carbohydrate restriction during pregnancy on obesity and glucose metabolism in the next generation.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

妊娠期低栄養は、一般的に次世代において肥満や生活習慣病発症リスクを高めるといわれてきた。一方、我々がこれまでに実施したマウスの妊娠期における糖質のみの制限は、次世代において肥満や糖代謝異常を改善する。本研究ではそのメカニズムに腸内細菌叢が関与することを見出した。この成果は、周産期栄養学において新たな知見をもたらしただけでなく、周産期における腸内細菌叢の改善に寄与しうる食事介入が次世代で生じうる肥満や糖代謝異常の予防に繋がることを示唆していることから、予防医学・先制医療に貢献する極めて社会的意義のある成果であるといえる。