Enamel hypoplasia and early mortality: Bioarcheological support for the Barker hypothesis

Abstract

The Barker hypothesis asserts that stressful events early in the life history of an individual have negative health consequences later in adulthood. The hypothesis initially focused on prenatal stressors as indicated by birth weight and related outcomes. This initial concern with the fetal phase of development led to its description as the “fetal programming” or “fetal origins” hypothesis. The realization that stressors in the postnatal phase had similar impacts on adult health has led to its latest characterization as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis (DOHaD). In this paper, we review the history and evidence in support of the DOHaD hypothesis. We then introduce an untapped source of information on early life stress: enamel hypoplasias and other developmental defects of enamel. Enamel defects are nearly indelible records of physiological perturbations, or stress, to developing ameloblasts (enamel‐forming cells). Furthermore, the location of the defects translates to specific periods of growth, providing a permanent temporal record of early life stressors from in utero to approximately twelve years of age. As we discuss, a handful of studies of different populations reveals that individuals with enamel defects that developed in utero and early in infant‐childhood development tend to be subject to earlier adolescent or adult mortality.

The Osteological Paradox 20 Years Later: Past Perspectives, Future Directions

“…Although the full potential of epigenetics research is unrealized, several researchers have addressed the DOHaD hypothesis using bioarchaeological data (Amoroso et al 2014;Armelagos et al 2009;Miszkiewicz 2012;Steckel 2005;Temple 2014;Weisensee 2013). Many researchers had previously noted a relationship between the presence, severity, or periodicity of enamel hypoplasias (Fig.…”

Reproductive trade-offs in extant hunter-gatherers suggest adaptive mechanism for the Neolithic expansion

“…On the other hand, studies reveal significant increases in morbidity and mortality associated with a reduction in dietary breadth and sedentarization (6,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Research reveals increased prevalence of tuberculosis, syphilis, and the plague (6,(23)(24)(25), overall immunological stress (26), and a deterioration in oral health (16,27,28).…”

“From the mouth of a child”: dental attributes and health status during childhood in Mesolithic India

“…Adverse uterine environments may result in high or low neonatal birth weight, predisposing to physiological imbalances and disruptions later in life (type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity; Barker, 2012). Bioarchaeological support for this hypothesis comes from the association of earlier mortality of individuals with LEH (Armelagos et al, 2009); however, this relationship has not been documented for LHPC. Further research is needed on the relationship between 'plane-form' enamel defects of deciduous canine teeth (LHPC) and age at death in archaeological samples.…”