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In this study, we evaluated the effect of replacing dietary fiber with sodium butyrate on reproductive performance and antioxidant defense in a high fat diet during pregnancy by using a rat model. Eighty virgin female Sprague Dawley rats were fed one of four diets--(1) control diet (C group), (2) high fat + high fiber diet (HF group), (3) high-fat +5% sodium butyrate diet (SB group), and (4) HF diet + α-cyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (CHC group)--intraperitoneally on days 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 of gestation. SB and dietary fiber had similar effects on improving fetal number and reducing the abortion rate; however, the anti-oxidant capacity of maternal serum, placenta, and fetus was superior in the HF group than in the SB group. In comparison, CHC injection decreased reproductive performance and antioxidant defense. Both dietary fiber (DF) and SB supplementation had a major but different effect on the expression of anti-oxidant related genes and nutrient transporters genes. In summary, our data indicate that SB and DF showed similar effect on reproductive performance, but SB cannot completely replace the DF towards with respect to redox regulation in high-fat diet; and SB might influence offspring metabolism and health differently to DF.

Background: There is mounting evidence that an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant activities plays a pivotal role in fetal development. Aim of the study: To determine the effects of maternal intake of fat and fiber on fetal intrauterine development and antioxidant defense systems of rats. Methods: Virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups according to diet: the low-fat, low-fiber group (LL); the low-fat, high-fiber group (LH); the high-fat, low-fiber group (HL); and the high-fat, high-fiber group (HH). The diets were fed 4 weeks prior to breeding through day 17.5 of pregnancy. Dietary intakes of fiber (wheat bran and oat) and fat were quantitatively varied, while intakes of energy and essential nutrients were kept constant among the diets. Results: Rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly improved fetal numbers, as well as enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and capacity of scavenging free radicals ( p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the placental malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were affected by the diet fat and fiber levels ( p < 0.05). Compared with the LL group, the mRNA abundance of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and thioredoxin-2 (Trx2) in the maternal liver and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in the placenta and fetus were significantly downregulated in the HL group ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly upregulated mRNA expressions of Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and HIF-1α in the maternal liver ( p < 0.05); Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the placenta ( p < 0.05); and Cu,Zn-SOD in the fetus ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: When energy intakes are equivalent, consumption of fiber in high- or low-fat diets benefits fetal development and growth, through improvements in maternal, placental, and fetal antioxidant defense capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of the addition of fibre and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to fat-rich diets on fetal intrauterine development in rats. A total of eighty virgin female Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a control diet, a high-fat diet (HF), a high-fat and high-fibre diet (HFF) or a high-fat NAC diet until day 19·5 of gestation. Maternal HFF consumption resulted in a significantly higher mean fetal number and placental weight than in the other groups (P < 0·05). The HFF diet significantly abrogated HF-induced decreases in maternal serum and placental superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities (P < 0·05); partially abrogated HF-induced increases in maternal serum and placental malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl concentrations (maternal serum MDA and placental protein carbonyl, P < 0·05); resulted in significantly higher fetal liver total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu- and Zn-containing SOD and Mn-containing SOD (Mn-SOD) activities than in the HF group (P < 0·05). Furthermore, mRNA expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α, thioredoxin 2 and Mn-SOD in fetal liver and Mn-SOD in fetal heart and placental GLUT3 in the HFF group were higher than those in the other groups (P < 0·05). The inclusion of dietary fibre in the HF diet was more effective than NAC supplementation in maintaining maternal serum and placental superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities close to those of the control. These results suggest that maternal fibre intake during pregnancy is beneficial for fetal intrauterine development possibly through the improvement of maternal, placental and fetal antioxidant capacities and placental nutrient transfer capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]