Fetal programming of the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Prenatal development is currently recognized as a critical period in the etiology of human diseases. This is particularly so when an unfavorable environment interacts with a genetic predisposition. The fetal programming concept suggests that maternal nutritional imbalance and metabolic disturbances may have a persistent and intergenerational effect on the health of offspring and on the risk of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

• fetal development
• genetic predisposition to disease
• metabolic syndrome X
• nutritional status
• pregnancy