The placenta, maternal diet and adipose tissue development in the newborn

Symonds, Michael E.; Bloor, Ian; Ojha, Shalini; Budge, Helen

Abstract

Background: A majority of adipose tissue present in the newborn possess the unique mitochondrial protein, uncoupling protein (UCP1). It is thus highly metabolically active and capable of producing 300 times more heat per unit mass than any other organ in the body. The extent to which maternal obesity and/or an obesogenic diet impacts on placental function thereby resetting the relative distribution of different types of fat in the fetus is unknown. Summary: Developmentally the majority (if not all) fat in the fetus can be considered as classical brown fat, in which UCP1 is highly abundant. In contrast, beige (or recruitable) fat which possess 90% less UCP1 may only appear after birth, as a majority of fat depots undergo a pronounced transformation that is usually accompanied by the loss of UCP1. The extent to which this process can be modulated in a depot-specific manner and/or changes in the maternal metabolic environment remain unknown. Key Messages: An increased understanding of the mechanism by which offspring born to mothers possess excessive adipose tissue could enable sustainable interventions designed to promote the abundance of UCP1 possessing adipocytes. Ultimately, this would increase their energy expenditure and improve glucose homeostasis in these individuals.

Citation

Symonds, M. E., Bloor, I., Ojha, S., & Budge, H. (2017). The placenta, maternal diet and adipose tissue development in the newborn. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 70(3), 232-235. https://doi.org/10.1159/000464301

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 17, 2017
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2017
• Journal: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism
• Print ISSN: 0250-6807
• Electronic ISSN: 1421-9697
• Publisher: Karger Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 232-235
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000464301
• Keywords: Placenta; Adipose tissue; Development
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/968073
• Publisher URL: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/464301
• Additional Information: This is the peer-reviewed but unedited manuscript version of the following article: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism DOI: 10.1159/000464301. The final, published version is available at http://www.karger.com/?doi=10.1159/000464301.