Fetal nutrition and adult hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery disease

Abstract

The fetal-origins-of-adult-disease hypothesis describes an adaptive phenomenon of in utero reprogramming of the undernourished fetus that predisposes the infant to increased morbidity as an adult. Studies have identified a positive association between indicators of fetal undernutrition such as low birth weight and chronic adult diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery disease. Current research is focusing on determining other factors that may contribute to these chronic adult diseases.