Maternal obesity and offspring risk of chronic kidney disease

© 2018 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology It is increasingly recognized that maternal obesity is implicated in developmental programming, contributing to the future risk of chronic disease development in offspring. The exact mechanisms of the role of maternal obesity in the development of chronic kidney disease in offspring remain unclear and animal models used are not without limitation. Human studies are limited by the effects of postnatal environmental conditions, which may have a direct impact on disease phenotype; and animal models are limited by use of species that differ significantly. This review will examine the most recent evidence from animal models on the impact of maternal factors during pregnancy/lactation on the future risk of chronic kidney disease development in offspring, emphasising the role of maternal obesity in exacerbating the deleterious effects of diet-induced obesity and/or diabetes on renal health