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Cited by 50Birth, Development, and HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studiesGestational Diabetes Research and Management

Prenatal physical activity and diet composition affect the expression of nutrient transporters and mTOR signaling molecules in the human placenta

Brett, K.E., Ferraro, Z.M., Holcik, M., Adamo, K.B.·2015·Placenta
DOI 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.11.015
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Abstract

Introduction Adequate nutrient delivery to the fetus is essential for optimal growth. Differences in prenatal physical activity level and diet quality influence maternal energy balance and these factors may alter placental nutrient transport. We investigated the associations between meeting physical activity guidelines and the quality of maternal diet on the expression of genes involved in fatty acid, amino acid and glucose transport, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and insulin signaling in the placenta from 16 term pregnancies.Methods Physical activity was directly measured with accelerometry, diet composition was assessed with 24 h dietary recalls, and gene expression was measured with custom polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays.Results Women who met physical activity guidelines had lower gene expression of fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and the beta non-catalytic subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and a higher expression of SNAT2. There was a strong positive correlation observed between total sugar intake and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) (r = 0.897, p = 0.000, n = 12), and inverse correlations between total sugar and mTOR and IGF1 expression. Percentage of total calories from protein was inversely related to insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) (r = -0.605, p = 0.028, n = 13).Discussion Variations in maternal physical activity and diet composition altered the expression of genes involved in fatty acid, amino acid and glucose transport and mTOR signaling. Future research on placental nutrient transport should include direct measures of maternal PA and dietary habits to help eliminate confounding factors.

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  • mTOR expression is inversely correlated with levels of maternal exercise and total sugar content in her diet.

    “mTOR expression is also inversely correlated with levels of maternal exercise, and total sugar content in her diet (60).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [60]

  • Placental expression of GLUT1 is positively related to sugar intake in normal pregnant women.

    “A recent study has shown that placental expression of GLUT1 is positively related to sugar intake in normal pregnant women (60).”

    From Placental Origins of Chronic Disease (2016) · cites this paper as [60]

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Authors
Brett, K. E., Ferraro, Z. M., Holcik, M., & Adamo, K. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Ottawa (CA)
  • Ottawa Hospital (CA)
ORCID
Venue
Placenta
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-02
Volume
36
Issue
2
Pages
204-212
ISSN
0143-4004 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.placenta.2014.11.015
OpenAlex
W1989879939
Cited by
50
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2
FWCI
3.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Placenta (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • The Canadian Foundation for Women's Health (06/2014)
  • Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award (ER08-05-147)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health (CIHR) Postdoctoral Fellowship (MFE-135470)
  • CIHR (FRN74740)
  • NSERC (RGPIN 250100-2010)
  • CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health New Investigator Award (MSH-122183)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
Keywords
exercise during pregnancy, maternal diet, placental nutrient transport, mTOR signaling, insulin signaling, fatty acid uptake, amino acid transport, glucose transport, FATP4, insulin-like growth factor I, IGF-1 receptor, AMPK, GLUT1, SNAT2, fetal nutrient supply
MeSH terms
Adult, Biological Transport, Diet, Energy Metabolism, Female, Food, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Motor Activity, Placenta, Pregnancy, Prenatal Care, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Signal Transduction, Membrane Transport Proteins, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

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