title: Human growth and chronic disease: a memorial to Jim Tanner.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Memorial to Jim Tanner.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the links between early growth and chronic disease in later life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is now a developmental model for the origins of chronic disease in which the causes to be identified are linked to normal variations in feto-placental, infant and childhood growth and development. These variations lead to variations in the supply of nutrients to the baby that permanently alters gene expression, a process known as 'programming'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations in the processes of development programme the function of a few key systems that are linked to chronic disease-the immune system, anti-oxidant defences, inflammatory responses, the number and quality of stem cells, neuro-endocrine settings and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. There is not a separate cause for each different disease. Which chronic disease originates during development may depend more on timing than on qualitative differences in exposures to external influences.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Southampton, UK. djpbarker@gmail.com
authors.forename: David J P
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015509:Developmental Biology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy