Maternal exercise during pregnancy modulates genetic and biochemical
damage caused by high consumption of fructose in blood and liver of
offspring
Abstract
Pregnancy is a period that is characterized by several metabolic and
physiological changes and requires special attention, especially with
regard to the relationship between feeding and fetal development.
Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate whether the
practice of voluntary physical exercise in combination with chronic
consumption of fructose from the beginning of life and/or until the
gestational period causes biochemical and genotoxic changes in pregnant
females and in their offspring. 70 Swiss female mice received fructose
in the hydration bottle and/or practiced voluntary physical exercise
(VPE) for 8 weeks (pre-pregnancy/pregnancy). After the lactation period,
the offspring groups were separated by sex. It was observed that the
consumption of fructose affected the food consumption, serum
concentration of fructose and glycemic profile in the mothers and that
the VPE decreases these parameters. In addition, fructose was genotoxic
in the mothers’ peripheral tissues and VPE had a preventive effect on
these parameters. The offspring showed changes in food consumption,
serum fructose concentration and body weight, in addition to an increase
in the adiposity index in male offspring in the FRU group and a decrease
in the FRU+VPE group. Fructose lead to hepatic steatosis in the
offspring and VPE was able to decrease the area of steatosis. In
addition, fructose led to genotoxicity in the offspring and VPE was able
to modulate this effect, reducing damages. In conclusion, we observed
that all interventions with voluntary physical exercise had nutritional,
genetic and biochemical benefits of the mother and her offspring.