Lifelong Maternal Western Diet negatively impacts the Placental Metabolome and Labyrinthine Vasculature in a Non-Obese Guinea Pig Model
Abstract
Independent of body mass index (BMI), a “Western Diet” (WD) high in refined sugars and saturated fats contributes to poor metabolic health. Maternal WD is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes—including altered placental development. A scoping review revealed a literature gap in lifelong WD studies using non-obese animal models. To elucidate the BMI-independent effects of WD on fetoplacental development, we utilized a non-obese WD guinea pig pregnancy model. We hypothesized that maternal WD would alter placental metabolomics in conjunction with impaired placental vascularization. Multivariate analysis revealed 98 differentially abundant metabolites between WD and control placentae, with 3 commonly down at both mid- and late-gestation: stearidonic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and geranic acid. Pathway analysis showed altered arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism. WD pregnancies exhibited decreased fetal-placental weight ratios with a compensatory increase in maternal blood space. Our work highlights the importance of maternal diet and metabolic health independent of BMI.