Research Progress of Maternal Metabolism on Cardiac Development and Function in Offspring

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 15; p. 3388
• Main Authors: Ren, Zhuoran, Luo, Sisi, Cui, Jiajun, Tang, Yunhui, Huang, Hefeng, Ding, Guolian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30-07-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Birth defects; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiomyocytes; Cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular diseases; Cohort analysis; Congenital diseases; congenital heart defects; DOHaD; Embryonic development; Fetuses; Gene expression; Gestational diabetes; Glucose; Health aspects; Heart failure; Hyperglycemia; Hypertension; Ischemia; maternal diabetes; maternal obesity; Metabolism; Methylation; Morphology; Mortality; Nutritional status; Obesity; Observational studies; Overweight; Physiological aspects; Pregnancy; Review; Stroke; Type 2 diabetes; Netherlands; China; metabolism; DOHaD; cardiovascular diseases; maternal diabetes; maternal obesity; congenital heart defects
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15153388

The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis refers to the adverse effects of suboptimal developmental environments during embryonic and early fetal stages on the long-term health of offspring. Intrauterine metabolic perturbations can profoundly impact organogenesis in offspring, particularly affecting cardiac development and giving rise to potential structural and functional abnormalities. In this discussion, we contemplate the existing understanding regarding the impact of maternal metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, or undernutrition, on the developmental and functional aspects of the offspring's heart. This influence has the potential to contribute to the susceptibility of offspring to cardiovascular health issues. Alteration in the nutritional milieu can influence mitochondrial function in the developing hearts of offspring, while also serving as signaling molecules that directly modulate gene expression. Moreover, metabolic disorders can exert influence on cardiac development-related genes epigenetically through DNA methylation, levels of histone modifications, microRNA expression, and other factors. However, the comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of these phenomena remains incomplete. Further investigations in this domain hold profound clinical significance, as they can contribute to the enhancement of public health and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.