[Fetal programming by disturbed intrauterine environment - fundamental mechanisms exemplified by the regulation of body weight and metabolism]

Abstract

Currently, epidemiological and experimental data indicate that exposures during prenatal and perinatal life may have lifelong consequences for the risk of developing obesity and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In this context, observations of the offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes as well as studies of children with low birth weight were most influential. This paper illustrates the current knowledge about perinatal programming of obesity and associated diseases and discusses possible etiopathogenic mechanisms, focussing on epidemiological and animal studies of the consequences of exposure to maternal diabetes and pre-/neonatal undernutrition. The resultant far-reaching potential for primary prevention of chronic diseases as well as the paradigmatic character of these hypotheses and observations for the general understanding of health and disease are highlighted.