Inulin in pregnant mice and liver damage in offspring
What it found
In mice, giving inulin to mothers during pregnancy appeared to restore gut bacteria in their pups and reduce liver damage caused by prenatal methamphetamine exposure.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Liver damage in pups
Prenatal methamphetamine exposure caused liver damage in the offspring. This showed up as a lower liver index, tissue changes, less glycogen made, poor liver function, and changes in mRNA profiles.
Oxidative stress
The exposure weakened the antioxidant system and caused oxidative stress in the young mice. This may be linked to changes in the gut bacteria in the cecum and problems with bile acid balance.
Inulin's effect
When mothers were given inulin, it appeared to restore the gut bacteria in their offspring. It also seemed to reduce the liver harm caused by the methamphetamine exposure before birth.
What the authors conclude
“Our study provides definitive evidence of METH's transgenerational hepatotoxicity and suggests that maternal inulin supplementation could be an effective preventive strategy.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say their study provides definitive evidence of methamphetamine's transgenerational liver toxicity.
- They suggest that maternal inulin supplementation could be an effective preventive strategy.
How it was done
Prenatal exposure to methamphetamine is a global concern because of its harmful effects on offspring, especially on the liver. Inulin, a prebiotic, is thought to possibly help with these developmental problems and toxic injuries in the young.
The researchers used a mouse model. The mice were exposed to methamphetamine before birth and then treated with inulin.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a study in mice, so it cannot show whether the same effects would happen in people.
- It cannot prove that inulin would prevent liver damage in human babies exposed to methamphetamine before birth.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
- Authors work at
- Southern Medical University, China; Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, China
The paper
- Title
- Maternal inulin supplementation ameliorates prenatal methamphetamine exposure-induced hepatotoxicity and restores gut microbiota in mouse offspring
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Li JH, Liu JL, Li XW, et al (2024). Maternal inulin supplementation ameliorates prenatal methamphetamine exposure-induced hepatotoxicity and restores gut microbiota in mouse offspring. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115769PubMed 38039856DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error