Obesity in offspring with maternal undernutrition during pregnancy
Yura, S.; Fujii, S.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 64(4): 795-803
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 16613200 Document Number: 602287
Recent epidemiology demonstrates higher rate of obesity and metabolic syndrome in offspring with undernutrition in utero. IUGR babies with intrauterine undernutrition grow rapidly to catch up with normal growth course. Leptin is an adipocyte derived satiety factor that regulates food intake and energy expenditure. We demonstrated in mice model with maternal food restriction during pregnancy that premature leptin surge during neonatal catch up growth of the offspring lead them to impaired leptin sensitivity and obesity in adulthood.