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Impact of fetal programming, birth weight, and infant feeding on later hypertension

Julie R Ingelfinger1, Anne-Monique Nuyt

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, MassGeneral Hospital for Children/MGH, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jingelfinger@partners.org

Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.)
|June 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Early life conditions like intrauterine growth and infant feeding impact adult health. This review explores how these factors influence later hypertension and kidney disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
  • Epidemiology
  • Basic sciences

Background:

  • Adult diseases like hypertension and kidney disease have origins in early life.
  • The intrauterine environment and early infant experiences are critical.
  • Understanding these links is key to preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of the intrauterine milieu on adult disease.
  • To examine the role of intrauterine growth retardation and premature birth.
  • To assess the influence of infant feeding on later health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epidemiologic and basic science studies.
  • Analysis of factors affecting fetal development.
  • Examination of long-term health consequences.

Main Results:

  • Intrauterine growth retardation is linked to increased risk of adult hypertension.
  • Premature birth can affect kidney development and function.
  • Infant feeding practices influence metabolic programming and disease risk.

Conclusions:

  • Early life exposures significantly shape adult susceptibility to hypertension and kidney disease.
  • Interventions during pregnancy and infancy may prevent chronic diseases.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate specific mechanisms.

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