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Human growth and cardiovascular disease
1Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. djpb@mrc.soton.ac.uk
Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Paediatric Programme
|January 17, 2008
Summary
Low birthweight is linked to higher risks of heart disease and diabetes later in life. These associations are influenced by developmental plasticity and childhood growth patterns.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Low birthweight is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for chronic diseases.
- Established associations include coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
- These links are observed across diverse populations and birthweight ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the evidence linking low birthweight to later-life chronic diseases.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms, including developmental plasticity.
- To examine the role of postnatal growth in modifying these associations.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing epidemiological studies and research findings.
- Analysis of the relationship between birthweight, gestational age, and disease incidence.
- Investigation of developmental plasticity as a biological mechanism.
Main Results:
- Consistent associations found between low birthweight and increased incidence of CHD, stroke, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
- The relationship is linked to birthweight relative to gestational duration, not solely prematurity.
- Impaired infant growth and rapid childhood weight gain can worsen these risks.
Conclusions:
- Low birthweight is a significant predictor of adult chronic disease risk.
- Developmental plasticity plays a key role in mediating these long-term health effects.
- Interactions between prenatal and postnatal environments influence disease trajectories.
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