The effect of maternal diet during late pregnancy on postnatal changes in blood and liver metabolites and hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase activity in the offspring.

Both starvation of and feeding a high linoleic acid content diet to rats during late pregnancy resulted in marked differences in the metabolism of the fed offspring immediately after birth when compared to control neonates (mother fed the normal high carbohydrate content laboratory diet during pregnancy). In particular differences in postnatal changes in blood glucose, non esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies and in hepatic triglyceride content were observed. Many of the differences appeared to be related to the variations in blood and hepatic metabolites present at birth in the various groups of animals. A similar situation also existed with respect to postnatal changes in the activity of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase.