Sweetening the Pregnancy Period: Investigating the metabolic impact of fructose and artificial sweetener intake during pregnancy

Abstract

Sugar-sweetened foods and beverages are associated with adverse effects on metabolic health and have been implicated in the global obesity epidemic. Current guidelines encourage women to avoid consuming sugar during pregnancy, often leading to increased artificially sweetened food and beverage choices. These have been linked to increased gut glucose absorption, promoting hyperglycaemia. We hypothesised that sugar and artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy could impair maternal offspring metabolic function. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received either water (CD), artificial sweetener (AS; 12.5mmol/L acesulfame-potassium) or high fructose corn syrup (Fr; 10% solution of high fructose corn syrup) from gestational day (GD) 0.5 (n=12/group). All groups received an ad libitum diet of standard chow. Maternal weight, food and liquid intake was recorded throughout gestation. Offspring were weighed daily until weaning at day 21. Upon weaning, offspring numbers were reduced and housed in groups of three same sex sibling. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on mothers at GD16.5 and mice were culled at GD18.5. Offspring were culled at 16 weeks of age. Fetal fasting truncal blood glucose was taken on GD 18.5 fetuses. Data were analysed by repeated measures or one-way ANOVA, as appropriate. Maternal caloric intake, weight and fat mass did not differ between groups. At cull, maternal AS and Fr groups had increased fasting glucose and impaired glucose intolerance compared to the CD group. Fasting insulin and leptin concentrations were increased in the Fr, but not AS group, when compared to CD. AS reduced male fetal weight and female fetal fasting blood glucose compared with CD. However, there were no observed differences between the adult offspring groups. Fr and AS consumption were associated with maternal metabolic dysfunction. AS was associated with reduced fetal growth and hypoglycaemia and may not be a beneficial alternative for sugary foods during pregnancy.