Dohad : metabolic programming for health and disease

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown that perinatal life plays an important role in determining long-term health or disease in subsequent generations. The hypothesis of the origin of health and disease development, DOHaD concept, suggests that non communicable diseases, as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, are originated during perinatal life and in early life, a phenomenon known as metabolic programming. Pregnancy and lactation periods are particularly sensitive to the composition of maternal diet; individuals whose mothers were malnourished or overfed with a high-fat diet during this period are known to develop metabolic dysfunctions in adult life. However, metabolic programming is not limited only to nutritional insults, but other factors, such as environmental ar pollution, tobacco, drugs and pesticides, among others. Others studies have shown that maternal exposure to environmental contaminats and organophosphate pesticides during critical phases of development is related to long term offspring metabolic dysfunction. Other studies have shown that mothers with a healthy lifestyle during perinatal life, including a balanced diet and regular physical exercise, can lead subsequent generations to positive effects on metabolism. Thus, insults during perinatal life can program the individual for positive or negative changes in health pattern in adult life.