Maternal low protein diet and fetal programming of lean type 2 diabetes

Maternal nutrition is found to be the key factor that determines fetal health in utero and metabolic health during adulthood. Metabolic diseases have been primarily attributed to impaired maternal nutrition during pregnancy, and impaired nutrition has been an immense issue across the globe. In recent years, type 2 diabetes (T2D) has reached epidemic proportion and is a severe public health problem in many countries. Although plenty of research has already been conducted to tackle T2D which is associated with obesity, little is known regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of lean T2D, a variant of T2D. Recent studies have focused on the effects of epigenetic variation on the contribution of in utero origins of lean T2D, although other mechanisms might also contribute to the pathology. Observational studies in humans and experiments in animals strongly suggest an association between maternal low protein diet and lean T2D phenotype. In addition, clear sex-specific disease prevalence was observed in different studies. Consequently, more research is essential for the understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of lean T2D, which might help to develop better disease prevention and treatment strategies. This review examines the role of protein insufficiency in the maternal diet as the central driver of the developmental programming of lean T2D.

Automated summary

Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role in fetal health and metabolic health in adulthood. Impaired nutrition during pregnancy has been linked to metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have focused on understanding the causes and mechanisms of lean type 2 diabetes, with a particular emphasis on the effects of low protein diet during pregnancy. Observational studies in humans and experiments on animals suggest that maternal low protein diet may be associated with lean type 2 diabetes. Understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of lean type 2 diabetes is important for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.