title: Long term impact of prenatal exposure to SSRIs on growth and body weight in childhood: evidence from animal and human studies.
abstract: Prenatal exposure to SSRIs has the potential to alter fetal 5-HT signalling during critical periods of development: the long-term consequences of which have not been well studied. Of particular interest are the potential long-term effects of prenatal SSRI exposure on growth and body weight in later life, given the role of the serotonergic system in regulating food intake and body weight. Animal studies demonstrate that changes in 5-HT homeostasis during critical periods of fetal development can lead to sex-specific molecular and functional alterations in the serotonergic and HPA systems, leading to an increased risk of overweight in male, but not female, offspring in later life. This review highlights the evidence and the need for studies in humans to determine whether prenatal SSRI exposure is associated with alterations in child growth and body weight and the importance of delineating these effects from those of the underlying maternal illness.
authors.affiliation: Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. grzly001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
authors.forename: Luke E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Grzeskowiak
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Janna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors