Maternal nutrition: effects in health in the next generation
Maternal nutrition: effects in health in the next generation
Nearly 20 years ago, it was discovered that low birthweight was associated with an increased risk of adult
diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This led to the hypothesis that exposure to undernutrition
in early life increases an individual’s vulnerability to these disorders, by ‘programming’ permanent
metabolic changes. Implicit in the programming hypothesis is that improving the nutrition of girls and
women could prevent common chronic diseases in future generations. Research in India has shown that
low birthweight children have increased CVD risk factors, and a unique birth cohort in Delhi has shown
that low infant weight, and rapid childhood weight gain, increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Progress
has been made in understanding the role of specific nutrients in the maternal diet. In the Pune Maternal
Nutrition Study, low maternal vitamin B12 status predicted increased adiposity and insulin resistance
in the children, especially if the mother was folate replete. It is not only maternal undernutrition that
causes problems; gestational diabetes, a form of foetal overnutrition (glucose excess), is associated with
increased adiposity and insulin resistance in the children, highlighting the adverse effects of the ‘double
burden’ of malnutrition in developing countries, where undernutrition and overnutrition co-exist.
Recent intervention studies in several developing countries have shown that CVD risk factors in the
offspring can be improved by supplementing undernourished mothers during pregnancy. Results differ
according to the population, the intervention and the post-natal environment. Ongoing studies in India
and elsewhere seek to understand the long-term effects of nutrition in early life, and how best to translate
this knowledge into policies to improve health in future generations
low birth weight, foetal growth, maternal nutritional status, underweight
593-599
Fall, Caroline
7171a105-34f5-4131-89d7-1aa639893b18
November 2009
Fall, Caroline
7171a105-34f5-4131-89d7-1aa639893b18
Fall, Caroline
(2009)
Maternal nutrition: effects in health in the next generation.
Indian Journal of Medical Research, 130 (5), .
Abstract
Nearly 20 years ago, it was discovered that low birthweight was associated with an increased risk of adult
diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This led to the hypothesis that exposure to undernutrition
in early life increases an individual’s vulnerability to these disorders, by ‘programming’ permanent
metabolic changes. Implicit in the programming hypothesis is that improving the nutrition of girls and
women could prevent common chronic diseases in future generations. Research in India has shown that
low birthweight children have increased CVD risk factors, and a unique birth cohort in Delhi has shown
that low infant weight, and rapid childhood weight gain, increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Progress
has been made in understanding the role of specific nutrients in the maternal diet. In the Pune Maternal
Nutrition Study, low maternal vitamin B12 status predicted increased adiposity and insulin resistance
in the children, especially if the mother was folate replete. It is not only maternal undernutrition that
causes problems; gestational diabetes, a form of foetal overnutrition (glucose excess), is associated with
increased adiposity and insulin resistance in the children, highlighting the adverse effects of the ‘double
burden’ of malnutrition in developing countries, where undernutrition and overnutrition co-exist.
Recent intervention studies in several developing countries have shown that CVD risk factors in the
offspring can be improved by supplementing undernourished mothers during pregnancy. Results differ
according to the population, the intervention and the post-natal environment. Ongoing studies in India
and elsewhere seek to understand the long-term effects of nutrition in early life, and how best to translate
this knowledge into policies to improve health in future generations
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More information
Published date: November 2009
Keywords:
low birth weight, foetal growth, maternal nutritional status, underweight
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 72229
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72229
ISSN: 0971-5916
PURE UUID: 35ce950a-866a-4fbb-b7ca-8e3cf08e77fc
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Date deposited: 02 Feb 2010
Last modified: 23 Jul 2022 01:33
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