GOMES, Manuela Simony da Cunha.
Abstract:
The intake of differents lipids can interfere in maternal physical parameters and interfer in the development of the nervous system of the offspring. A source of essential fatty acids is the safflower oil. However, there is still little information about the impact of this fatty acid consumption over a developing organism. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of safflower oil on physical and biochemical parameters of pregnant and lactating women and its effects on the brain and physical development of offspring. We used eight primiparous female Wistar rats to obtain the neonates. Apos pregnancy diagnosis they received diets with 7% of lipids from the 14th day of gestation and throughout lactation. Two groups were formed, control (GC) and safflower oil (GCT). Monitoring of maternal weight gain was done weekly until weaning (postnatal day 21). Subsequently, the following physical parameters were measured: toracic circumference, abdominal circumference, length vértice-cóccix, abdominal fat and the body mass index; biochemistry parameters: total cholesterol, glucose, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. For the evaluation of the development of neonates was measured the following reflexes: disappearance of palm grasp, and appearances of the following responses: righting reflex, cliff avoidance, vibrissae placing, negative geotaxis, auditory startle, and free-fall righting. The maximum observation time was 10 seconds. The somatic parameters were measured: ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, eye opening, eruption of superior incisors, eruption of inferior incisors, fur appearance and tail length. The mothers rats treated with safflower oil showed a significant reduction in abdominal fat, glucose and triglycerides when compared to the control group. There was no difference in the maternal physical parameters analyzed between the groups. Experimental group showed delayed in the vibrissae placing, anticipating the eruption of superior and inferior incisors, lower weight gain at 14 and 21 days, as well as decreased tail length on day 21 compared with the control group (P <0.05). From these results, we note that safflower oil was able to reduce abdominal fat without changing body weight and food intake as well, was effective on glycemic control and maternal levels of triglycerides, in addition to interfering neonatal development, speeding up and slowing maturation somatic reflex ontogeny and body weight of neonates.
