The role of vitamin A and its pro-vitamin carotenoids in fetal and neonatal programming: gaps in knowledge and metabolic pathways

Author(s)

de Souza Mesquita, Leonardo M. ^[1] ; Mennitti, V, Lais ; de Rosso, Veridiana V. ^[2] ; Pisani, Luciana P. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, Lab Nutr & Fisiol Endocrina LaNFE, Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Mennitti, Lais, V, Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, Lab Nutr & Fisiol Endocrina LaNFE, Santos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: NUTRITION REVIEWS; v. 79, n. 1, p. 76-87, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Vitamin A (VA) and its pro-vitamin carotenoids are naturally occurring lipophilic compounds involved in several cellular processes and metabolic pathways. Despite their broad spectrum of activities in the general population, dietary deficiencies of these compounds can potentially affect pregnancy outcomes. Since maternal nutritional status and diet composition during pregnancy and lactation can have longlasting effects in offspring until adulthood, this study presents an overview of VA and the role of pro-VA carotenoids during pregnancy and lactation - the nutrition, metabolism, and biological effects in the offspring. The review aimed to discuss the pro-VA carotenoids and VA-associated pathways and summarize the results with reference to gestational disorders, and VA and pro-VA carotenoids as preventive agents. Also, considering that obesity, overweight, and metabolic diseases are major public health concerns worldwide, fetal and neonatal development is discussed, highlighting the physiological role of these molecules in obesity prevention. This review comprehensively summarizes the current data and shows the potential impact of these compounds on nutritional status in pregnancy and lactation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/09359-8 - EPIGENETIC PROFILE AND MITOCHONDRIAL PHENOTYPE OF THE 21-DAY-OLD OFFSPRING FROM OBESE DAMS FED WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF FATTY ACIDS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
• Grantee: Laís Vales Mennitti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/18910-1 - Ionic Liquids as Green Extractors for Achievement of Carotenoids: Study of Bioavailability and Antioxidant Activit
• Grantee: Veridiana Vera de Rosso
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/23242-8 - Carotenoids extraction from Bactris gasipaes with ionic liquids and its application in metabolic programming model
• Grantee: Leonardo Mendes de Souza Mesquita
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/14133-0 - Intracellular mechanisms implicated to inflammatory process in obese subjects before and after supplementation juçara pulp
• Grantee: Luciana Pellegrini Pisani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants