title: Fetal and infant exposure to the Chinese famine increases the risk of fatty liver disease in Chongqing, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early life exposure to the famine may affect the susceptibility to the metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of early life exposure to the Chinese Famine (1959-1961) with the risk of fatty liver disease, obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the data of 10,935 adults born between 1956 and 1965 in Chongqing from check-up center at the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in 2011. Logistic regression models were used to explore the effects of famine on the risk of fatty liver disease, obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Chongqing, prevalences of fatty liver disease among adults in non-exposed (1956-1958 plus 1963-1965) group and born in 1959, 1960, 1961, and 1962 were 34.01%, 36.42%, 34.63%, 40.27%, and 36.09%, respectively. Prevalences of fatty liver disease, obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia were significantly higher in males versus females. The risk of fatty liver disease was about 1.375-fold (1.303 (95% confidence interval, 1.066-1.594) for male, 1.547(95% confidence interval, 1.195-2.002) for female) higher in subjects born in 1961, and 1.142-fold (1.117 (95% confidence interval, 0.957-1.305) for male, 1.242 (95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.537) for female) higher in subjects born in 1962 after adjustment of age and sex, compared with non-exposed subjects. Early life exposure to the Chinese famine was also associated with the increased risk of obesity and hyperglycemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to the Chinese famine during fetal life and infancy was associated with an increased risk of fatty liver disease in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics and Information Management, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Peng
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics and Information Management, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: The Public Health Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The Public Health Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics and Information Management, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics and Information Management, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics and Information Management, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Que
authors.affiliation: The Public Health Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D013217:Starvation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: fatty liver disease; malnutrition; starvation