Effects of a preconceptional and gestational mutli-vitamin-mineral-omega3 supplementation on fetoplacental development in a rabbit model

This study was funded by IPRAD Santé Laboratoires, Paris, FranceThe developmental origins ofhealth and disease concept stipulates that nutritional imbalance in the preconceptional and gestational periods induces risks for the development and long-term health of the individual. In industrialized countries, most women take nutritional supplements before and during pregnancy, regardless of their diet. Potentially harmful embtyonic and fetal effects of an excess multi-micronutrient supplementation, however, are not known. The objective of this study was to assess, using a rabbit mode!, the effects of a multi-vitamin-mineral-mnega 3 supplementation (Gestarelle® G) administered in slight excess during preconceptional and gestational periods. Twenty-seven New Zealand does were used. Supplementation contained vitamins (Bl, B2, BS, B6, B8, B9, B12, C, E), minerais (magnesium, iron, copper, iodine), and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA; namely DHA and EPA) in the form of oral capsules administered daily from 10 days before mating until the end ofpregnancy. Group lX posology allometrically matched thatltsedinhumans (n = 10), representing an excess of6 to 50% ofrabbit needs. Group 3X rabbits received 3 times the recommended posology (n = 9; 18 to 150% ofrabbit needs), whereas the control group received capsules containing only excipient (n = 8). Embryo and fetoplacental developmentwas monitored bytransabdominal two- and three-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler on Days 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 with 5 conceptuses perdoe examined each time. Does were killed on Day 28 (term = 31 days), 24 h after the last capsule administration. Maternai and fetal blood, as weil as placenta and fetal organs, were collected. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis as appropriatc. The n-3 PUFA plasma concentrations increased in the 3X does (P < 0.01). Fetal plasma concentrations were increased ont y in males in the lX group (P < 0.001) and bath in females and males in the 3X group (P < le- 15 . No statistical differences wcre observed between treatments for any of the ultrasound or Doppler analyses. In total, 208 fetuses were collected with no difference in litter size, sex ratio, nor biometrie measurements between groups. No structural anomaly was observed by histologîcal analysis of fetal organs. In conclusion, multi-vitamin mineral-omega 3 supplementation administered dming the preconceptional and gestational periods in a rabbit mode! in the present study and within the measured parameters had no deleterious effect for dam and conceptuses at 1 and 3 times the recommended posology. Further worlc is on-going to study the effects on fetal brain development. Further studies are needed to evaluate putative post-natal effects