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Perinatal maternal undernutrition programs the offspring hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Jean Lesage1, Naima Sebaai, Marion Leonhardt

  • 1Perinatal Stress Unit, Department of Adaptative Neurosciences and Physiology, University of Lille1, 59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France.

Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|December 19, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Early undernutrition, linked to low birth weight, programs Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis alterations across life. These changes can increase risks for metabolic, immune, and inflammatory diseases in adulthood.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Early life undernutrition is linked to low birth weight and long-term health issues.
  • Animal and human studies suggest programming of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis by early nutritional deficits.
  • Maternal undernutrition affects fetal HPA axis function via placental glucocorticoid transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence linking early undernutrition to HPA axis programming.
  • To explore the impact of this programming on adult health, including metabolic and inflammatory diseases.
  • To discuss potential therapeutic strategies for reversing these effects.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal and human studies on early undernutrition and HPA axis function.
  • Analysis of findings related to brain, pituitary, and adrenal cortex changes.
  • Examination of evidence for HPA axis dysregulation in humans born small.

Main Results:

  • Early undernutrition programs HPA axis alterations throughout life, affecting brain, pituitary, and adrenal glands.
  • Maternal undernutrition reduces placental 11beta-HSD2 activity, increasing fetal glucocorticoid exposure.
  • Adults with a history of undernutrition exhibit HPA axis dysregulation, with hyperactivity in older individuals.

Conclusions:

  • HPA axis alterations due to early undernutrition may contribute to metabolic syndrome, immune, and inflammatory diseases.
  • Postnatal interventions, including environmental and dietary modifications, show promise in restoring physiological functions.
  • Epigenomic modulation presents a potential therapeutic avenue for reversing early-life programming effects.

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