A diet enriched in extra virgin olive oil prevents placental morphologic alterations and maternal serum matrix metalloproteinases overactivity in GDM patients

FAZIO, MARÍA VICTORIA; CAPOBIANCO, EVANGELINA; DÍAZ, ESTEBAN; GRESTA, CARLOS; GOMEZ RIBOT, DALMIRO; GOMEZ, HEBE LORENA; JAWERBAUM, ALICIA

Buenos Aires (virtual)

Simposio; International Symposium on Reproductive Health; 2021

ISRH2021 Scientific and Organizing Committee. CEFYBO UBA CONICET

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent disease that increases the risks of maternal, fetal and placental complications and leads to the programming of metabolic diseases. Changes in placental morphology are associated to an adverse programming. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes, markers of a proinflammatory state if overexpressed. Our studies have shown that a dietary supplementation with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is capable of preventing increased maternal weight gain, circulating triglycerides and placental MMPs. Inthis work, we hypothesized that a maternal diet enriched in EVOO modulates placental morphology, circulating cholesterol levels and maternal blood MMPs activity in women with GDM.Methods: Fifty healthy (Control) and patients with GDM were enrolled after signing an informed consent (protocol approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital Pirovano, Buenos Aires). All of them were advised to follow the WHO diet for pregnancy. Patients with GDM were randomized to receive or not three tablespoons/day of EVOO from week 24?28 of gestation until delivery. Placental samples and maternal blood were obtained at term. MMPs activity was evaluated by zymography.Results: Although placental diameter and perimeter were similar in the three evaluated groups, the placentas from the GDM group were thicker compared to controls (15%, p < 0.05), an alteration prevented by the EVOOenriched diet (p < 0.05, GDM-EVOO vs. GDM). Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in maternal blood showed no changes. Serum MMP-9 activity was increased in the GDM group (81%, p < 0.01 vs. Control), an alteration prevented by the EVOO-enriched diet (p < 0.05 vs. GDM).Conclusion: Maternal GDM led to increased placental thickness, an alteration that may impair placental transport function and was prevented by the EVOO-enriched diet. The capacity of EVOO treatment to prevent maternal blood MMPs overactivity evidences its beneficial effects in the mother, and identifies MMP activity as a putative biomarker of the pro-oxidative status.