Maternal high-fat-diet leads to intrauterine growth restriction and the development of type 2 diabetes

Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, researchers developed two models of IUGR, one is maternal malnourishment and the other one is maternal high cholesterol environment In both models, researchers measured maternal body weights, offspring body weights and offspring body lengths. To further assess whether these two models develop type 2 diabetes, Glycosylated Serum Protein. (GSP) concentrations and fasting insulin levels were examined once a month. Body weights and body lengths of IUGR animals induced by high fat diet group were significantly lower than those of controls. Moreover, both two models of IUGR rats showed hyperglycemia and high serum insulin concentration indicating rats in these two models possess the potential of forming type 2 diabetes. Comparison of these two models demonstrated that hypercholesterol in. take induced more severe hyperglycemia and serum insulin levels. Furthermore, rats in high fat diet group showed significant lower body weight and body length compared with controls. In conclusion, maternal high cholesterol food could induce in. trauterine growth retardation and develop type 2 diabetes.