Early life nutrition and metabolic programming.
Research investigating the early programming of adult metabolic disease has in recent years provided much mechanistic insight into how the early environment impacts on long-term health. It includes studies addressing the roles of intrauterine nutrient availability, which is determined by maternal nutrition, maternal exposure to oxygen, toxic events, and infection; the placental interface; and also the early postnatal environment. This review will explore the epidemiological evidence for programming of metabolic disease and provide an overview of the various studies using animals to model metabolic phenotypic outcome. It will also discuss evidence for the proposed molecular mechanisms and the potential for intervention.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Sciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. df220@cam.ac.uk
Denise S
DS
Fernandez-Twinn
Susan E
SE
Ozanne
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000196:embryology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*