Maternal obesity is associated with
obesity and metabolic disorders in offspring. However, intervention strategies to reverse or ameliorate the effects of
maternal obesity on offspring health are limited. Following maternal
undernutrition,
taurine supplementation can improve outcomes in offspring, possibly via effects on
glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion. The effects of
taurine in mediating inflammatory processes as a protective mechanism has not been investigated. Further, the efficacy of
taurine supplementation in the setting of
maternal obesity is not known. Using a model of
maternal obesity, we examined the effects of maternal
taurine supplementation on outcomes related to
inflammation and lipid metabolism in mothers and neonates. Time-mated Wistar rats were randomised to either: 1) control : control diet during pregnancy and lactation (CON); 2) CON supplemented with 1.5%
taurine in
drinking water (CT); 3) maternal obesogenic diet (high fat, high
fructose) during pregnancy and lactation (MO); or 4) MO supplemented with
taurine (MOT). Maternal and neonatal weights, plasma
cytokines and hepatic gene expression were analysed. A MO diet resulted in maternal
hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia and increased plasma
glucose,
glutamate and TNF-α concentrations.
Taurine normalised maternal plasma TNF-α and
glutamate concentrations in MOT animals. Both MO and MOT mothers displayed evidence of
fatty liver accompanied by alterations in key markers of hepatic lipid metabolism. MO neonates displayed a pro-inflammatory hepatic profile which was partially rescued in MOT offspring. Conversely, a pro-inflammatory phenotype was observed in MOT mothers suggesting a possible maternal trade-off to protect the neonate. Despite protective effects of
taurine in MOT offspring, neonatal mortality was increased in CT neonates, indicating possible adverse effects of
taurine in the setting of normal pregnancy. These data suggest that maternal
taurine supplementation may ameliorate the adverse effects observed in offspring following a maternal obesogenic diet but these effects are dependent upon prior maternal nutritional background.