Early Life Programming of Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Browning Capacity by Micronutrients and Bioactive Compounds as a Potential Anti-Obesity Strategy

Abstract

The early stages of life, especially the period from conception to two years, are crucial for shaping metabolic health and the risk of obesity in adulthood. Adipose tissue (AT) plays a crucial role in regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism, and brown AT (BAT) and the browning of white AT (WAT) are promising targets for combating weight gain. Nutritional factors during prenatal and early postnatal stages can influence the development of AT, affecting the likelihood of obesity later on. This narrative review focuses on the nutritional programming of AT features. Research conducted across various animal models with diverse interventions has provided insights into the effects of specific compounds on AT development and function, influencing the development of crucial structures and neuroendocrine circuits responsible for energy balance. The hormone leptin has been identified as an essential nutrient during lactation for healthy metabolic programming against obesity development in adults. Studies have also highlighted that maternal supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamin A, nicotinamide riboside, and polyphenols during pregnancy and lactation, as well as offspring supplementation with myo-inositol, vitamin A, nicotinamide riboside, and resveratrol during the suckling period, can impact AT features and long-term health outcomes and help understand predisposition to obesity later in life.

Keywords: gestation; lactation; leptin; metabolic programming; milk miRNAs; myo-inositol; nicotinamide riboside; polyphenols; polyunsaturated fatty acids; vitamin A.

Figure 1

Early life exposures, particularly nutritional cues in critical developmental periods, may have a significant impact on metabolic health and susceptibility to obesity in adulthood. Animal studies reviewed show that mother supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamin A, nicotinamide riboside, and polyphenols during pregnancy and lactation, and offspring supplementation during suckling with leptin, myo-inositol, vitamin A, nicotinamide riboside, and resveratrol, impact adipose tissue features by conditioning local epigenetic modifications and the development of structures and neuroendocrine circuits that are crucial to the control of energy balance, or even other metabolic tissues, with implications for the propensity to obesity later in life. (*) miRNAs in the figure are not interventions in mothers but refer to the miRNAs present in breast milk that are affected by the maternal metabolic status and/or diet and may target adipose tissue features.

Figure 2

Adipose tissue features impacted by the indicated nutritional interventions during gestation and/or lactation and postulated mechanisms.