Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs
Identifying how specific nutrients can impact fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes will yield important insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet and reproductive health. Our study investigates how dietary vitamin C intake affects various fertility parameters and pregnancy and neon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/19/4107 |
| _version_ | 1797575361916043264 |
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| author | Sharna J. Coker Rebecca M. Dyson Carlos C. Smith-Díaz Margreet C. M. Vissers Mary J. Berry |
| author_facet | Sharna J. Coker Rebecca M. Dyson Carlos C. Smith-Díaz Margreet C. M. Vissers Mary J. Berry |
| author_sort | Sharna J. Coker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Identifying how specific nutrients can impact fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes will yield important insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet and reproductive health. Our study investigates how dietary vitamin C intake affects various fertility parameters and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in the guinea pig, a natural model of vitamin C dependency. Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were fed an optimal (900 mg/kg feed) or low (100 mg/kg feed) vitamin C diet ad libitum for at least three weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. We found that animals receiving the low vitamin C diet had an increased number of unsuccessful matings, a higher incidence of foetal reabsorption, and, among pregnancies resulting in delivery at term, produced fewer offspring. Neonates from mothers on the low vitamin C diet had significantly decreased plasma vitamin C concentrations at birth and exhibited mild growth impairments in a sex-dependent manner. We conclude that a diet low of vitamin C induces a state of subfertility, reduces overall fecundity, and adversely impacts both pregnancy outcomes and growth in the offspring. Our study provides an essential foundation for future investigations to determine whether these findings translate to humans. If so, they could have important clinical implications for assisted reproductive technologies and nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:38:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31e1f5e8e2884e248fde7009674167be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:38:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-31e1f5e8e2884e248fde7009674167be2023-11-19T14:50:16ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-09-011519410710.3390/nu15194107Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea PigsSharna J. Coker0Rebecca M. Dyson1Carlos C. Smith-Díaz2Margreet C. M. Vissers3Mary J. Berry4Perinatal and Developmental Physiology Group, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New ZealandPerinatal and Developmental Physiology Group, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New ZealandMātai Hāora—Centre for Redox Biology and Medicine, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New ZealandMātai Hāora—Centre for Redox Biology and Medicine, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New ZealandPerinatal and Developmental Physiology Group, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New ZealandIdentifying how specific nutrients can impact fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes will yield important insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet and reproductive health. Our study investigates how dietary vitamin C intake affects various fertility parameters and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in the guinea pig, a natural model of vitamin C dependency. Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were fed an optimal (900 mg/kg feed) or low (100 mg/kg feed) vitamin C diet ad libitum for at least three weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. We found that animals receiving the low vitamin C diet had an increased number of unsuccessful matings, a higher incidence of foetal reabsorption, and, among pregnancies resulting in delivery at term, produced fewer offspring. Neonates from mothers on the low vitamin C diet had significantly decreased plasma vitamin C concentrations at birth and exhibited mild growth impairments in a sex-dependent manner. We conclude that a diet low of vitamin C induces a state of subfertility, reduces overall fecundity, and adversely impacts both pregnancy outcomes and growth in the offspring. Our study provides an essential foundation for future investigations to determine whether these findings translate to humans. If so, they could have important clinical implications for assisted reproductive technologies and nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/19/4107vitamin C (ascorbateascorbic acid)fertilityreproductionpreconceptionpregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Sharna J. Coker Rebecca M. Dyson Carlos C. Smith-Díaz Margreet C. M. Vissers Mary J. Berry Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs Nutrients vitamin C (ascorbate ascorbic acid) fertility reproduction preconception pregnancy |
| title | Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs |
| title_full | Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs |
| title_short | Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs |
| title_sort | effects of low vitamin c intake on fertility parameters and pregnancy outcomes in guinea pigs |
| topic | vitamin C (ascorbate ascorbic acid) fertility reproduction preconception pregnancy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/19/4107 |
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