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Review
. 2022 Dec 24;15(1):87.
doi: 10.3390/nu15010087.

Role of Prenatal Nutrition in the Development of Insulin Resistance in Children

Annalisa Blasetti  1 , Alessia Quarta  1 , Miriana Guarino  1 , Ilenia Cicolini  1 , Daniela Iannucci  1 , Cosimo Giannini  1 , Francesco Chiarelli  1
Affiliations
Review

Role of Prenatal Nutrition in the Development of Insulin Resistance in Children

Annalisa Blasetti et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Nutrition during the prenatal period is crucial for the development of insulin resistance (IR) and its consequences in children. The relationship between intrauterine environment, fetal nutrition and the onset of IR, type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity and metabolic syndrome later in life has been confirmed in many studies. The intake of carbohydrates, protein, fat and micronutrients during pregnancy seems to damage fetal metabolism programming; indeed, epigenetic mechanisms change glucose-insulin metabolism. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induced by unbalanced nutrient intake during prenatal life cause fetal adipose tissue and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction. In this review we have summarized and discussed the role of maternal nutrition in preventing insulin resistance in youth.

Keywords: insulin resistance; micronutrients; prenatal nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of unbalanced maternal nutrition on intrauterine fetal growth and fetal metabolic programming.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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