Fetal origins of adult disease: strength of effects and biological basis

Barker, D. J. P.; Eriksson, Johan G.; Forsén, Tom; Osmond, Clive

doi:10.1093/ije/31.6.1235

Cited by 1,744 publications

(1,235 citation statements)

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“…For many aspects of the metabolic syndrome, risk is greatest in those born small who subsequently gain the most weight (Bavdekar et al 1999;Adair & Cole, 2002;Barker et al 2002). Recent studies have begun to distinguish the contributions of different periods of postnatal weight gain to later phenotype and disease risk , but the generalisability of such findings remains unclear.…”

Section: Postnatal Growth and Subsequent Body Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

Wells¹,

Chomtho²,

Fewtrell³

2007

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

394

301

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There is now compelling evidence that growth patterns in early life are associated with risk of the metabolic syndrome in adulthood, although the relative importance of prenatal v. postnatal growth for such associations remains controversial. Body composition may play a key role in the ‘programming’ of such diseases, through itself being programmed by early growth, and perhaps also by being a mediator of the programming process. Early studies reporting positive associations between birth weight and adult BMI suggested a tendency for large babies to become obese adults. Such findings appeared contradictory to the many studies linking low birth weight with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies now indicate that birth weight is strongly predictive of later lean mass, and has a much weaker association with later fatness. Studies that link low birth weight with a more central adipose distribution in later life remain controversial, and require confirmation using more sophisticated methodologies. Findings for infant growth rate appear population-specific, with infant weight gain predicting subsequent lean mass in developing countries, but predicting subsequent fat mass and obesity in industrialised populations. Further studies are required on this issue, to ensure that appropriate public health policies are recommended for countries across the range of economic development. Although the links between early growth and later disease risk implicate early-life nutrition, either in utero or during infancy, few prospective studies have explored the influence of early diet on later body composition. Many studies have associated breast-feeding with a reduced prevalence of obesity categorised by BMI; however, the few studies directly evaluating childhood fatness provide little support for this hypothesis. Recent advances in the ability to measure body composition during the infant period offer a major opportunity to improve the understanding of the nutritional programming of body composition and its contribution, or lack thereof, to subsequent disease risk.

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Section: Postnatal Growth and Subsequent Body Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many cases the strongest association between birth weight and later outcome is found when a statistical adjustment for adult size is incorporated (Barker et al 2002). This issue has more than one implication.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

Wells¹,

Chomtho²,

Fewtrell³

2007

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

394

301

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In other cases, integration of signals received from maternal hormones may trigger epigenetic modifications that alter long-term phenotypic development by modulating RNA coregulatory networks 96 . Low birth weight, for example, has been shown to correlate with lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, presumably by resetting developmental programs 97 . Furthermore, the recent demonstration that plasma RNA is quite stable 98 raises the question of whether coRNAs secreted by various somatic tissues are used to transmit information from mother to fetus.…”

Section: Replication Of Ribotypesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The four Rs of RNA-directed evolution

Herbert

2003

Nat Genet

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The read-out of genetic information in eukaryotes is not only more complex than previously realized, but also more dynamic. Much of the information is 'soft-wired' , with extensive RNA processing necessary to generate phenotypes 10 . A subset of the RNA, referred to here as coRNA ( Fig. 1), coordinates the read-out of genetic information and reconciles regulatory inputs. For each cell type, the sum of these interactions defines a distinct RNA profile or ribotype 10 . RNA-based processes also facilitate replication of ribotypes in subsequent generations. The flexibility of these programs allows soft-wired organisms to evolve in a more rapid and dynamic way than 'hard-wired' organisms constrained by DNA mutation 10 . Together, the actions of reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic and replication constitute the four Rs of RNA-directed evolution. Here, we describe roles for coRNAs and SATs (Fig. 2) in these events. RNA-directed RNA readoutRNA coregulates the sequence-specific read-out of genetic information from RNA by targeting the evolutionarily conserved machinery of RNA interference (RNAi) 11 and translational repression. RNAi leading to post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is induced by doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) arising from infection by dsRNA viruses, senseantisense transcription pairs, transcription of inverted repeats and delivery of dsRNAs manufactured in vitro 12 . Both endogenous and exogenous dsRNAs are processed cytoplasmically by RNase III dicer paralogs into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that are 21-25 bases long 12,13 . These siRNAs are incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that targets any RNA with a sequence complementary to the siRNA 12,14 . The target RNA is cleaved by RISC, which has endonucleolytic and presumed exonucleolytic activity 12,15 . Each cycle results in the destruction of the target RNA and the regeneration of an active RISC 16,17 .In Neurospora crassa 18,19 , plants 20 , Schizosaccharomyces pombe 21 and Caenorhabditis elegans 22 , but not in flies, humans or mouse oocyctes 18,19,23,24 , PTGS can also be initiated by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) that synthesizes complementary RNA from highly expressed transcripts to generate dsRNA. This process can spread from the 3´ to the 5´ end of the mRNA, leading to progressive silencing of a gene and other mRNAs with exons in common (transitive RNAi) 18,22 . From the evolutionary viewpoint, transitive RNAi favors the generation of new phenotypes, as related genes in species with polyploid genomes will escape cosuppression by sequence divergence, resulting in altered function or expression.The number of dicer paralogs also differs between species. Arabidopsis, which has at least four dicer family members, seems to use different enzymes to defend against viruses and to process endogenously produced dsRNA 13,25 . In humans, mice and worms, there is only one dicer ortholog, suggesting that any pathway-specific functions are guided by ancillary regulatory proteins associated with RISC. These ancillary proteins include me...

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“…This adverse environment may change gene expression, leading to physiological phenotypes associated with morbidity and mortality. 1,2 Newborns with a low birth weight have increased risk for perinatal as well as adult morbidity and mortality, 2 whereas newborns with a high birth weight are at increased risk for several complications, such as shoulder dystocia, operative delivery, and birth canal lacerations. 3 High birth weight is also associated with increased risk during adulthood of type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer (for example, endometrial, breast, or prostate).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 High birth weight is also associated with increased risk during adulthood of type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer (for example, endometrial, breast, or prostate). 1,2,4,5 The effect of exercise training during the course of pregnancy on the newborn's birth weight is unclear. Two meta-analyses reported that exercise during pregnancy normally does not affect birth weight, 6,7 but a more recent Cochrane meta-analysis concluded that the available data are insufficient to infer important risks or benefits for the mother or infant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance exercise training during pregnancy and newborn's birth size: a randomised controlled trial

2009

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Objective: We examined the effect of light intensity resistance exercise training performed during the second and third trimester of pregnancy on the newborn's birth size. We also studied the association between maternal body weight prior to pregnancy and newborn's birth size. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Subjects: We randomly assigned 160 sedentary gravidae to either a training (n ¼ 80) or a control (n ¼ 80) group. The training programme focused on light resistance and toning exercises (three times per week, 35-40 min per session). We recorded the Apgar score, birth weight, birth length, and head circumference of the newborn, as well as gestational age at time of delivery from hospital perinatal records. We also measured maternal weight and height before parity and gestational weight gain. Results: Maternal characteristics neither differed between groups (all P40.1) nor newborn characteristics (all P40.1). Maternal body weight was positively and significantly associated with newborn's birth weight and length only in the control group (b ¼ 19.20 and 0.065, respectively, Po0.01). Conclusion: Light intensity resistance training performed over the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not have a negative impact on the newborn's body size or overall health. Exercise interventions might attenuate the adverse consequences of maternal body weight before pregnancy on the newborn's birth size.

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Fetal origins of adult disease: strength of effects and biological basis

Abstract: Coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes may originate through two widespread biological phenomena-developmental plasticity and compensatory growth.

Cited by 1,744 publications

References 28 publications

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

The four Rs of RNA-directed evolution

Resistance exercise training during pregnancy and newborn's birth size: a randomised controlled trial

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