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Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Adult consequences of fetal growth restriction
1Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Insights
Low birthweight, influenced by fetal nutrient delivery, is linked to higher risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes later in life. These conditions arise from developmental plasticity and early life environmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular health
- Metabolic disorders
Background:
- Low birthweight is associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease and related disorders like stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
- These associations span the entire birthweight range, indicating normal variations in fetal nutrient delivery have long-term impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the long-term health consequences of birthweight and early development.
- To understand the mechanisms linking fetal growth to adult-onset chronic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data linking birthweight to chronic disease incidence.
- Analysis of developmental plasticity and early life environmental influences.
Main Results:
- Associations between low birthweight and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases are observed across all birthweights.
- Developmental plasticity and early life environment significantly alter structure and function, impacting long-term health.
Conclusions:
- Fetal growth and early development are critical determinants of adult cardiovascular and metabolic health.
- Interventions targeting fetal nutrient delivery and early life environments may mitigate risks for chronic diseases.
Abstract:
Low birthweight in relation to the length of gestation, is now known to be associated with increased rates of coronary heart disease and the related disorders stroke, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. These associations extend across the whole range of birthweight, which implies that normal variations in nutrient delivery to the fetus have profound long-term effects. The associations are thought to reflect the body's plasticity during development, by which its structure and function can be permanently changed by the intra uterine and early post natal environment. Slow growth during infancy and rapid weight gain after the age of two years exacerbate the effect of slow fetal growth. Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes arise through a series of interactions between environmental influences and the pathways of development that precede them.
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