Effect of maternal folate deficiency on lipid metabolism in the offspring and its molecular mechanism

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: NAKARA Rieko 奈良女子大学, 生活環境科学系, 准教授 (90198119)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 葉酸 / 妊娠期 / 脂質代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Folate deficiency during pregnancy has been proposed to be associated to increase the risk of neonatal tube defect. It is also reported that maternal malnutrition increases the risk of life-style related diseases in adulthood. We revealed previously that folate deficiency changes the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes, and accumulate triglyceride in liver. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal folate deficiency on lipid metabolism in the offspring. Maternal folate deficiency suppressed the gain of body weight in the offspring. Moreover, this induced increase of white adipose tissue, accumulation of triglyceride in liver, and impairment in down-regulation of genes related to fatty acid synthesis in the offspring which intake high-fat diet after weaning. These results suggest that maternal folate deficiency affect on lipid metabolism in the offspring.

Free Research Field

栄養学