Impact of sucrose consumption on inflammatory and immunological parameters in newborn offspring of females mice with gestational diabetes mellitus

Aim: This study aims to analyze the impact of sucrose consumption on inflammatory and immunological parameters of newborn offspring of females with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: 4 groups of pregnant female CD1 mice were created (n = 6): A, without GDM, without sucrose supplementation; B, without GDM, with sucrose supplementation; C, with GDM, without sucrose supplementation; and D, with GDM, with sucrose supplementation. GDM was induced by subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin, with a dose of 230 mg/kg. Sucrose supplementation was administered at a concentration of 41.66 mg/mL per oral stool (500 μL volume) to each female daily at 8:00 am from confirmation of gestational diabetes until the end of pregnancy. Immediately after birth, the pups were sacrificed in the first 2 h of life. The following were quantified in each group of 8 newborns: body weight, glycaemia, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, HOMA-IR index, percentage of lymphocytes: CD3, CD4, and CD8, immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG), cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), and redox activity: (carbonylated proteins, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity). Results: Sucrose consumption increased the levels of adiponectin, IL-1β, IL-6 and decreased the concentration of IgA in the offspring. Group C and D caused lower body weight and higher concentration of carbonylated proteins. The combination of sucrose and GDM favored an increase in blood glucose, the HOMA-IR index, the percentage of T lymphocytes, the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, and reduced glutathione, with reduction of catalase. Conclusions: Sucrose consumption by mothers during pregnancy and the presence of GDM generate alterations at the cellular, immunological, metabolic, hormonal, and redox levels in newborns. This results in an inflammatory state, with an imbalance in the redox state, which predisposes the newborn to short and medium-term metabolic problems from birth.