Impacto do consumo materno do óleo e amêndoa de baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) sobre uma prole de ratos em desenvolvimento

Abstract

Experimental studies have evaluated the effect of maternal diet during the critical period of development on various physical and metabolic parameters of offspring. This type of study aims to describe and understand how the stimuli or injuries that occur during gestation and lactation can cause positive or negative physiological effects in infancy and adulthood. Thus, we aimed with this study to evaluate the effects of maternal supplementation with baru oil and almond during the critical period of development on physical and biochemical parameters of offspring in adulthood. For that, three experimental groups were distributed according to the diet offered to the mothers during gestation and lactation: Control - treated with distilled water; Baru Oil - treated with 2000 mg/kg baru oil and Baru Almond - treated with baru almond flour (2000 mg/kg). All groups consumed standard laboratory diet - Presense Purina®. Feed intake and weight evolution were monitored from weaning to adult offspring and the physical and biochemical parameters assessed when the adult reached adulthood. We found in our findings that the offspring of the Almond Baru group showed a higher feed consumption compared to the other two groups during the 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th week of life, but after this period the consumption becomes similar between the groups. The weight evolution remained increasing between the groups until the end of the 12 th day of the offspring's life. Among the physical parameters analyzed, only the thoracic circumference was higher in the offspring of the Almond Baru group compared to Control (p <0.05). The retroperitoneal fat was higher in the groups treated with baru oil and almond purchased from the Control group. The total abdominal fat was higher in the Baru Almond group compared to the Baru Oil and Control (p <0.05). The liver weight decreased in the Baru Oil group and the percentage of fat and the AST and ALT enzymes decreased in the groups treated with baru oil and almond when compared to Control. Regarding the composition of fatty acids, we observed an accumulation of monounsaturated acids and a decrease of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the hepatic tissue of the offspring of experimental groups (Baru Oil and Baru Almond) in the adult phase. As for biochemical parameters, blood glucose levels were reduced and HDL-c increased in the Baru almond group (p <0.05). In view of these findings, we can infer that the consumption of baru oil and almonds during the gestation and lactation periods prevents the risk of hepatic steatosis, modifies biochemical parameters and does not cause changes in weight or food consumption of offspring when this reaches the adult stage.