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Early life programming and metabolic syndrome

Xiu-Min Wang1

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. wangxiumin1019@yahoo.com.cn

World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP
|February 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Early life nutrition and environmental exposures can epigenetically program children for metabolic syndrome (MS). The perinatal period offers a critical window for interventions to prevent adult-onset diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a global epidemic in children.
  • Early life "programming" influences the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and MS.
  • Nutritional imbalances and endocrine disruptor chemicals during development are risk factors for later-life MS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of early life factors in the etiology of metabolic syndrome.
  • To understand the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation and transgenerational inheritance of disease phenotypes.
  • To identify targets for early intervention during the perinatal period.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of epigenetic marks in response to environmental stimuli.
  • Studying the impact of diet and in utero environment on gene regulation.
  • Focusing on the perinatal period as a critical window for intervention.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic reprogramming occurs due to environmental stimuli like diet and the in utero environment.
  • Early life exposures can influence the development of adult-onset disease phenotypes.
  • The perinatal period is a key developmental stage for physiological changes.

Conclusions:

  • Early life interventions can potentially alter physiological pathways and prevent adult-onset diseases.
  • Understanding epigenetic mechanisms provides insight into disease inheritance.
  • Targeting the perinatal period is crucial for mitigating the risk of metabolic syndrome and related conditions.

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