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Metabolomic approach in milk from calorie-restricted rats during lactation: a potential link to the programming of a healthy phenotype in offspring

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Abstract

Purpose

Mild/moderate maternal calorie restriction during lactation in rats has been associated with a lower predisposition to obesity and a healthier metabolic profile in adult offspring. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of maternal calorie restriction during lactation on milk composition to identify potential candidate components that could be involved in the programming effects in offspring.

Methods

An untargeted metabolomic approach in milk samples from 20%-calorie-restricted lactating (CRL) dams and their controls was performed. Levels of leptin, adiponectin, and irisin hormones in milk were also determined at lactating days 5, 10, and 15.

Results

Metabolomic analyses revealed a different metabolite pattern in milk between controls and CRL dams. 29 differential metabolites were tentatively identified (p < 0.05, FC > 1.5). Among them, myo-inositol, which showed greater levels in milk from CRL rats than controls, may be highlighted as one of the biologically plausible candidates that could be related to the beneficial effects of CRL in offspring. Results regarding myo-inositol were validated spectrophotometrically at days 10 and 15 of lactation, and levels in milk were correlated with maternal plasma levels. In addition, milk from CRL dams presented increased levels of adiponectin, decreased levels of irisin, and no changes in leptin levels vs controls throughout lactation.

Conclusion

These data reveal important changes in milk composition due to calorie restriction during lactation that may be involved in the metabolic programming of the healthier phenotype of adult offspring. However, the possible contribution of the specific components is yet to be determined.

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Acknowledgements

Spanish Government (AGL2015-67019-P; MINECO/FEDER, UE). CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of the ISCIII. The Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology is a member of the European Research Network of Excellence NuGO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Group of Nutrigenomics and Obesity), University of the Balearic Islands, CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Cra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain

    Mariona Palou, Juana María Torrens, Pedro Castillo, Juana Sánchez, Andreu Palou & Catalina Picó

  2. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears (IdISBa), Palma, Spain

    Mariona Palou, Pedro Castillo, Juana Sánchez, Andreu Palou & Catalina Picó

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  1. Mariona Palou
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  2. Juana María Torrens
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  3. Pedro Castillo
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  4. Juana Sánchez
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  5. Andreu Palou
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Correspondence to Andreu Palou.

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Palou, M., Torrens, J.M., Castillo, P. et al. Metabolomic approach in milk from calorie-restricted rats during lactation: a potential link to the programming of a healthy phenotype in offspring. Eur J Nutr 59, 1191–1204 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01979-6

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