Metabolic Programming and Nutrition

Abstract

Epidemiological and experimental studies have and continue to offer valuable insight into the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, which emphasizes the importance of early-life nutritional and environmental changes on the increased risk of metabolic diseases in later life. It is now known that non-communicable chronic diseases that were previously associated with lifestyle and genetics have their origins early in life. It is well established that early life environmental signals, including nutrition, set the stage for long-term health and disease risk—effects that span multiple generations. This relationship began still in the intrauterine period and extends throughout the critical period of development. Many types of nutritional challenges including caloric restriction, macronutrient excess, and micronutrient insufficiencies have been shown to induce early life adaptations that produce long-term dysfunction. Several pathways have been suggested to underpin these associations, including epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells. While the mechanisms still remain to be fully investigated, the relationship of nutrition factors in early life and metabolic diseases are clear. This chapter focuses on the role that the nutrition presents during critical periods of development and its repercussions into adulthood.

Metabolic Disease Programming: From Mitochondria to Epigenetics, Glucocorticoid Signalling and Beyond

“…Organ hypertrophy or hyperplasia as also being described, as well as modification of the organ structure, vascularization, innervation and juxtaposition that can perpetually alter metabolism. [12][13][14][15] Several molecular mechanisms have also being proposed, including acute or chronic changes in gene expression, through various avenues and abnormal cell growth due to specific metabolic conditions. 14 This review aims to discuss foetal adaptations to a suboptimal intrauterine environment, to debate the mechanisms that lead to a new prenatal physiological homeostatic state, and how these alterations modulate offspring's future health and disease.…”

“…[12][13][14][15] Several molecular mechanisms have also being proposed, including acute or chronic changes in gene expression, through various avenues and abnormal cell growth due to specific metabolic conditions. 14 This review aims to discuss foetal adaptations to a suboptimal intrauterine environment, to debate the mechanisms that lead to a new prenatal physiological homeostatic state, and how these alterations modulate offspring's future health and disease. In this review, we specifically focused on foetal adaptations in terms of (a) metabolic programming affecting mitochondrial function and oxidative stress; (b) metaboliterelated irreversible protein modification; (c) long-term epigenetic remodelling of gene expression; and (d) endocrine early childhood, to re-set the metabolic homeostasis and break the chain of subsequent events that could lead to the development of disease.…”

“…The induced alterations may persist until adulthood or at least act in foetal programming by promoting premature metabolic dysfunction. Organ hypertrophy or hyperplasia as also being described, as well as modification of the organ structure, vascularization, innervation and juxtaposition that can perpetually alter metabolism 12‐15 . Several molecular mechanisms have also being proposed, including acute or chronic changes in gene expression, through various avenues and abnormal cell growth due to specific metabolic conditions 14 …”

Recent Insights and Recommendations for Preventing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain

“…Intrauterine life was proven to be one of the most crucial stages of development that may significantly affect patients’ future health [ 79 ]. Non-communicable chronic diseases such as obesity that were formerly linked to genetics and lifestyle were shown to have early life origins [ 80 ]. The adverse intrauterine environment exerts influence on the fetus, undergoing a critical developmental period when rapid cell division occurs, leading to rather irreversible adaptations in homeostatic systems, organs, and tissues.…”

“…The adverse intrauterine environment exerts influence on the fetus, undergoing a critical developmental period when rapid cell division occurs, leading to rather irreversible adaptations in homeostatic systems, organs, and tissues. This is referred to as “fetal” or “metabolic programming”, and the mechanisms behind it are supposedly connected with hormonal factors, the gut microbiome, inflammation, and epigenetic modifications [ 80 , 81 ].…”