Maternal cafeteria diet intake influences offspring development in Wistar rats: a pilot study

Maternal consumption of hyperpalatable cafeteria diets has been associated with adverse outcomes in offspring. This exploratory pilot study evaluated potential metabolic, growth trajectory, histological, neurochemical, and epigenetic alterations associated with maternal exposure to a cafeteria diet (CAF). Female Wistar rats were assigned to either a CAF diet ( n = 5) or a control diet ( n = 5). Offspring (female and male; n = 3 per group) were weaned and allocated into four experimental groups: CAF-CAF, CAF-C, C-CAF, and C-C. Food intake and anthropometric parameters were monitored over 10 weeks, and metabolic, histological, neurochemical, and global DNA methylation outcomes were assessed at the end of the study. CAF exposure was associated with higher macronutrient intake, increased weight gain, and variable metabolic changes in both sexes. Histological evaluation revealed alterations in the duodenum, liver, and kidney, as well as variations in dopamine receptor and serotonin transporter expression in the brain. No consistent differences were observed in global DNA methylation between groups. These preliminary findings suggest that maternal and early-life exposure to a CAF diet may be associated with subtle, multi-system alterations in offspring. However, given the exploratory nature and limited sample size, further studies with larger, adequately powered designs are needed to confirm these observations.