LEVEL OF FRUCTOSE AND GLUCOSE DURING PREGNANCY ALTER MATERNAL AND FETAL TRACE-ELEMENT STATUS IN RATS AT TERM

To test the hypothesis that either the source or the level of maternal dietary carbohydrate could alter fetal tissue concentrations of trace elements, pregnant dams were fed graded levels (0, 4, 12, or 60%) of glucose or fructose throughout pregnancy. Selected maternal and fetal tissues were collected at term and analyzed for zinc, copper, iron, ma nganese and magnesium concentrations. Results confirmed that the place nta accumulated significantly less copper if fructose rather than gluc ose was the principal carbohydrate in the maternal diet. In contrast, changes in the level, but not the source, of maternal dietary carbohyd rate resulted in lower copper but higher zinc and iron concentrations in the maternal livers. In the fetus, higher copper, iron and magnesiu m concentrations in livers and higher concentrations of zinc in the lu ng were found when mothers had consumed low (0 or 4%) carbohydrate die ts. These results indicate that changes in macronutrient content of th e maternal diet alone can precipitate alterations in maternal, placent al and fetal trace element status. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.