Cafeteria diet in breastfeeding dams promotes anxiolytic effects, accumulation of adipose tissue, and impacts offspring development

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional andbehavioral effects of a cafeteria diet in dams during thebreastfeeding period and in their offspring from weaninguntil early adulthood (70 days old). Pregnant Wistar rats werefed a chow diet until delivery. Postnatally (D0), litters wereculled to 8 pups and lactating dams received control (CTRLn= 6) or cafeteria (CAF n= 6) diets and water ad libitum.At the end of the breastfeeding period, male offspring wereplaced in individual boxes receiving the same treatmentfrom their respective dams (CTRL or CAF) until adulthood(70 days). All nutritional and behavioral evaluations wereperformed with the dams (n= 12) during the breast feedingphase and with the male offspring (n= 24) after weaningto adulthood. CAF dams demonstrated a lower caloric andprotein intake; higher intake of fats; loss of weight; greateraccumulation of adipose tissue; and an anxiolytic effect. CAFmale offspring showed lower caloric intake; higher intake offats; and accumulation of adipose tissue. In addition, theseanimals continued to have decreased body weight, bodylength and tibia-femur length in relation to CTRL. In dams,a cafeteria diet promoted alterations in body compositionand anxiety, and in offspring the diet resulted in adequatedevelopment.