Nutrients, Vol. 17, Pages 2763: Early Caffeine Exposure Causes Metabolic and Hormonal Changes Differently According to the Window of Exposure (Gestation or Lactation), Sex, and Age in a Rat Model
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17172763
Authors:
Luana Lopes de Souza
Rosiane Aparecida Miranda
Iala Milene Bertasso
Beatriz Souza da Silva
Mayara da Silva Almeida
Reinaldo Röpke-Junior
Beatriz Ribeiro de Oliveira
Leandro Miranda-Alves
Egberto Gaspar Moura
Patricia Cristina Lisboa
Background/Objectives: Many women report restrictions on caffeine intake during gestation, but some of these restrictions are withdrawn during the lactation period. Given that both periods have elevated epigenetic plasticity, our aim was to compare the effects of caffeine exposure during each isolated period on offspring metabolism and susceptibility to obesity in response to metabolic overload. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats received orogastric caffeine (CAF) (25 mg/kg/day) or vehicle during gestation (CAF G) or lactation (CAF L) periods. We evaluated the body mass, adiposity, hormone levels, and food behavior of offspring of both sexes at different ages. Adult animals were subjected to metabolic overload, with fructose solution (10%) offered for ten days. Results/Discussion: CAF G and CAF L dams presented lower T3 levels (−70 and −52%) because of reduced TSH activity in the thyroid gland (−28 and −29%), despite unchanged gland morphology. At weaning, CAF G and CAF L males presented lower T3 levels (−75 and −80%), as did CAF L females (−85%). At puberty, females in the CAF L group showed glucose intolerance. In adulthood, CAF G males exhibited a greater preference for palatable food. In addition, CAF G and CAF L males showed increased feed efficiency, suggesting a greater susceptibility to obesity development. To test this susceptibility, the animals were subjected to fructose overload. Indeed, we observed that despite the absence of a fructose effect in the control group, male CAF G and female CAF L animals showed greater adiposity in response to fructose overload (+43% and +37%, respectively). Conclusions: Caffeine exposure during lactation increases the risk of obesity development among female offspring. However, for male offspring, gestation seems more critical.
Background/Objectives: Many women report restrictions on caffeine intake during gestation, but some of these restrictions are withdrawn during the lactation period. Given that both periods have elevated epigenetic plasticity, our aim was to compare the effects of caffeine exposure during each isolated period on offspring metabolism and susceptibility to obesity in response to metabolic overload. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats received orogastric caffeine (CAF) (25 mg/kg/day) or vehicle during gestation (CAF G) or lactation (CAF L) periods. We evaluated the body mass, adiposity, hormone levels, and food behavior of offspring of both sexes at different ages. Adult animals were subjected to metabolic overload, with fructose solution (10%) offered for ten days. Results/Discussion: CAF G and CAF L dams presented lower T3 levels (−70 and −52%) because of reduced TSH activity in the thyroid gland (−28 and −29%), despite unchanged gland morphology. At weaning, CAF G and CAF L males presented lower T3 levels (−75 and −80%), as did CAF L females (−85%). At puberty, females in the CAF L group showed glucose intolerance. In adulthood, CAF G males exhibited a greater preference for palatable food. In addition, CAF G and CAF L males showed increased feed efficiency, suggesting a greater susceptibility to obesity development. To test this susceptibility, the animals were subjected to fructose overload. Indeed, we observed that despite the absence of a fructose effect in the control group, male CAF G and female CAF L animals showed greater adiposity in response to fructose overload (+43% and +37%, respectively). Conclusions: Caffeine exposure during lactation increases the risk of obesity development among female offspring. However, for male offspring, gestation seems more critical. Read More