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Diet influences critical periods of growth, including gestation and early development. We hypothesized that a maternal/early life diet reflecting unprocessed dietary components would positively affect offspring metabolic and anthropometric parameters. Using 9 C57BL-6 dams, we simulated exposure to a Western diet, a high-fiber unprocessed diet (HFUD), or a control diet. The dams consumed their respective diets (Western [ n = 3], HFUD [ n = 3], and control [ n = 3]) through 3 weeks of pregnancy and 3 weeks of weaning; their offspring consumed the diet of their mother for 4.5 weeks post weaning. Measurements included dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, feed consumption, body weight, blood glucose, and insulin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the offspring. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc analysis. The offspring DEXA measures at 5 and 7.5 weeks post parturition revealed higher lean body mass development in the HFUD and control diet offspring compared to the Western diet offspring. An analysis indicated that blood glucose ( p = 0.001) and HbA1c concentrations ( p = 0.002) were lower among the HFUD offspring compared to the Western and control offspring. The results demonstrate that diet during gestation and early life consistent with traditional diet patterns may influence hyperglycemia and adiposity in offspring.

Older adults are frequently cited as an at-risk population for vitamin D deficiency that may in part be due to decreased cutaneous synthesis, a potentially important source of cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3 ). Previous studies found that cutaneous D 3 production declines with age; however, most studies have been conducted ex vivo or in the photobiology lab. The purpose of this study was to characterize the response of vitamin D metabolites following a 30-min bout of sun exposure (15-min each to the dorsal and ventral sides) at close to solar noon in younger and older adults., Methods: 30 healthy individuals with skin type II/III were recruited; a younger cohort, aged 20-37 ( n = 18) and an older cohort ( n = 12), age 51-69 years. Exposure was at outer limits of sensible sun exposure designed to enhance vitamin D synthesis without increasing risk of photo ageing and non-melanoma skin cancer. Serum D 3 concentration was measured at baseline, 24, 48 and 72 h post-exposure. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at baseline and 72 h post-exposure plus 168 h post-exposure in the older cohort., Results: D 3 increased in response to sun exposure (time effect; p = 0.002) with a trend for a difference in D 3 between cohorts (time*group; p = 0.09). By regression modeling of continuous data, age accounted for 20% of the variation in D 3 production. D 3 production decreased by 13% per decade. Despite changes in D 3 , however, serum 25(OH)D did not change from baseline to 72 or 168 h post exposure ( p > 0.10)., Conclusions: Serum D 3 concentration increased significantly in response to outdoor sun exposure in younger and older adults. While ageing may dampen cutaneous synthesis, sunlight exposure is still a significant source of vitamin D 3 .