Renal Endowment: Developmental Origins of Adult Disease

Developmental origins of adult disease.

Variation in the quality or quantity of nutrients consumed during pregnancy can exert permanent and powerful effects upon the developing fetus. This programming of fetal development is emerging as a new risk factor for non-communicable diseases of adulthood, including coronary heart disease and the metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological studies show that indicators of nutritional deficit in pregna...

Developmental Origins and Nephron Endowment in Hypertension

Primary hypertension continues to be one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease worldwide. A stable intrauterine environment is critical for the future development and health of the fetus. The developing kidney has been found to be especially vulnerable during this time period, and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that an adverse in utero environment is associated with an ...

Developmental origins of adult health and disease.

BRAIN SPARING A human baby receiving an inadequate supply of nutrients or oxygen may protect its brain. One way in which it does this is by diverting more blood to the brain at the expense of the blood supply to the trunk. The growth of organs such as the liver is therefore ‘‘traded off’’ to protect growth of the brain. Brain sparing may also be effected through metabolic processes such as insu...

Developmental origins of adult phonology

The developmental origins of adult disease (Barker) hypothesis.

Many studies have provided evidence for the hypothesis that size at birth is related to the risk of developing disease in later life. In particular, links are well established between reduced birthweight and increased risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke in adulthood. These relationships are modified by patterns of postnatal growth. The most widely accepted mechanis...