Maternal Fructose Boosts the Effects of a Western-Type Diet Increasing SARS-COV-2 Cell Entry Factors in Male Offspring
Elena Fauste, Cristina Donis, Madelín Pérez-Armas et al
Journal of Functional Foods https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105366
Abstract:Fructose-rich beverages and foods consumption correlates with the epidemic rise in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Severity of COVID-19 has been related to these metabolic diseases. Fructose-rich foods could place people at an increased risk for severe COVID-19. We investigated whether maternal fructose intake in offspring affects hepatic and ileal gene expression of proteins that permit SARS-CoV2 entry to the cell. Carbohydrates were supplied to pregnant rats in drinking water. Adult and young male descendants subjected to water, liquid fructose alone or as a part of a Western diet, were studied. Maternal fructose reduced hepatic SARS-CoV2 entry factors expression in older offspring. On the contrary, maternal fructose boosted the Western diet-induced increase in viral entry factors expression in ileum of young descendants. Maternal fructose intake produced a fetal programming that increases hepatic viral protection and, in contrast, exacerbates fructose plus cholesterol-induced diminution in SARS-CoV2 protection in small intestine of progeny.
Keywords: Fructose fetal programming; SARS-CoV-2; liver; ileum; cholesterol.