[The biological triangle of life. Interaction between nutrition, reproduction and longevity]

Reproduction, nutrition and longevity are interrelated phenomena in the evolutionary shaping of living creatures, including man. For example, if nutrition is compromised, reproductive capacity is diminished in order to not threaten the life of a female mammal and her fetus by potential starvation during pregnancy. It has also been shown in both animal models and observational studies of women in historical cohorts that an inverse correlation seems to exist between the number of progeny (children) and longevity. This may represent examples of the so-called "disposable soma hypothesis" as outlined by Kirkwood for the understanding of biological modeling of longevity in relation to reproductive success. The implications of these hypotheses could be found in clinical medicine, e.g. in the understanding of aging processes or reproductive problems. Special attention has been focused on the impact of fetal malnutrition on future risk of biological disturbances, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, premature aging and cessation of reproductive capacity.