FETAL ORIGIN OF ADULT DISEASE

“Fetal origins of adult disease”, often called the “Barker hypothesis” after a large proportion data of Barker and colleagues in Southampton over the last decade, that adverse influences early in development, and particularly during intrauterine life, can result in permanent changes in structure, physiology, metabolism, which result in increased disease risk in adulthood. Many further 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. The most widely accepted mechanisms thought to underlie these relationship are those of altered fetal nutrition, genetic–epigenetic links, fetal programming and fetal excess glucocorticoid exposure. It is suggested that the fetus makes physiological adaption in response to changes in its environment to prepare itself for posnatal life. The “Fetal origin of adult disease” hypothesis is attractive. It suggests that these diseases could be prevented by improving maternal health and fetal development