1
|
Cheng M, Sommet N, Kerac M, Jopp DS, Spini D. Exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese famine and risk of non-communicable diseases in later life: A life course perspective. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002161. [PMID: 37585364 PMCID: PMC10431657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Child undernutrition and later-life non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are major global health issues. Literature suggests that undernutrition/famine exposure in childhood has immediate and long-term adverse health consequences. However, many studies have theoretical and methodological limitations. To add to the literature and overcome some of these limitations, we adopted a life course perspective and used more robust methods. We investigated the association between exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese famine and later-life NCDs and if this association depends on: life stage at exposure, famine severity, and sex. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a large-scale, nationally representative, longitudinal study-the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018, 11,094 participants). We measured famine exposure/severity using self-reported experience, life stage using age at exposure, and health using the number of NCDs. We performed Poisson growth curve models. We obtained three findings. First, compared with unexposed participants, those exposed before age 18 had a higher risk of later-life NCDs, particularly if exposed in-utero (IRR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.70, 2.12], p < .001) and in the "first 1,000 days" of life (IRR = 1.86, 95% CI [1.73, 2.00], p < .001; for 0-6 months group, IRR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.67, 2.29], p < .001). Second, the famine effects among participants moderately and severely exposed were similar (IRR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.09, 1.28], p < .001 and IRR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.17, 1.32], p < .001). Third, the famine effects did not differ between females and males (IRR = 0.98, 95% CI [0.90, 1.07], p = .703). In an individual's life course, in-utero and the "first 1,000 days" are a particularly sensitive time period with marked long-term implications for NCDs if undernutrition/famine is experienced in this period. However, this window remains open until young adulthood. This highlights the need to invest more in preventing and treating child/adolescent undernutrition to tackle later-life NCDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Cheng
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Sommet
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marko Kerac
- Centre for Maternal Adolescent Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela S. Jopp
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dario Spini
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
He X, Shi X, Pan D, Wang H, Zhang X, Pu L, Luo M, Li J. Secular trend of non-communicable chronic disease prevalence throughout the life span who endured Chinese Great Famine (1959-1961). BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1238. [PMID: 37365633 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16142-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Famine is a risk factor for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), which account for over 80% of deaths in China. The effect of famine on the prevalence of NCDs in terms of various age groups, time periods and cohorts is currently poorly understood. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore long-term trends in the impact of China's Great Famine (1959-1961) on NCDs in China. METHODS This study used data from the 2010-2020 China Family Panel Longitudinal Survey across 25 provinces in China. The subjects were aged 18-85 years, and the total number of subjects was 174,894. The prevalence of NCDs was derived from the China Family Panel Studies database (CFPS). An age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to estimate the age, period and cohort effects of NCDs in 2010-2020 and the effect of famine on the risk of NCDs in terms of cohort effects. RESULTS The prevalence of NCDs increased with age. Additionally, the prevalence did not clearly decrease over the survey period. Regarding the cohort effect, people born in the years adjacent to the famine period had a higher risk of NCDs; additionally, females, those born in rural areas, and those who lived in provinces with severe famine and post-famine had a higher likelihood of NCDs. CONCLUSIONS Experiencing famine at an early age or the experience of famine in a close relative's generation (births after the onset of famine) are associated with an increased risk of NCDs. Additionally, more severe famine is associated with a higher risk of NCDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xiaojuan Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Degong Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Lining Pu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
| | - Mingxiu Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 75004, Ningxia, China.
| | - Jiangping Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, Hui Autonomous Region, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ni SL, He W, Zhang JK, Yang F, Bai GN, Li D, Xu WZ, Li JB, Shu Q, Zhu SK. Multigenerational birth cohort study in China: importance, necessity and beyond. World J Pediatr 2023; 19:411-416. [PMID: 36929375 PMCID: PMC10019799 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-023-00707-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sai-Li Ni
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei He
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jia-Kai Zhang
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guan-Nan Bai
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Die Li
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Ze Xu
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Bin Li
- Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Shan-Kuan Zhu
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Chronic Disease Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kupsco A, Sjödin A, Cowell W, Jones R, Oberfield S, Wang S, Hoepner LA, Gallagher D, Baccarelli AA, Goldsmith J, Rundle AG, Herbstman JB. Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and BMI Z-scores from 5 to 14 years. Environ Health 2022; 21:82. [PMID: 36076289 PMCID: PMC9454187 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00893-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant compounds widely used in household products until phase out in 2004. PBDEs are endocrine disruptors and are suggested to influence signaling related to weight control. Prenatal exposures to PBDEs may alter childhood adiposity, yet few studies have examined these associations in human populations. METHODS Data were collected from a birth cohort of Dominican and African American mother-child pairs from New York City recruited from 1998 to 2006. PBDE congeners BDE-47, - 99, - 100, and - 153 were measured in cord plasma (ng/μL) and dichotomized into low (< 80th percentile) and high (>80th percentile) exposure categories. Height and weight were collected at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, and an ancillary visit from 8 to 14 years (n = 289). Mixed-effects models with random intercepts for participant were used to assess associations between concentrations of individual PBDE congeners or the PBDE sum and child BMI z-scores (BMIz). To assess associations between PBDEs and the change in BMIz over time, models including interactions between PBDE categories and child age and (child age)2 were fit. Quantile g-computation was used to investigate associations between BMIz and the total PBDE mixture. Models were adjusted for baseline maternal covariates: ethnicity, age, education, parity, partnership status, and receipt of public assistance, and child covariates: child sex and cord cholesterol and triglycerides. RESULTS The prevalence of children with obesity at age 5 was 24.2% and increased to 30% at age 11. Neither cord levels of individual PBDEs nor the total PBDE mixture were associated with overall BMIz in childhood. The changes in BMIz across childhood were not different between children with low or high PBDEs. Results were similar when adjusting for postnatal PBDE exposures. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal PBDE exposures were not associated with child growth trajectories in a cohort of Dominican and African American children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison Kupsco
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St. Room 1105, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Jones
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sharon Oberfield
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lori A Hoepner
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St. Room 1105, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Dympna Gallagher
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St. Room 1105, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jeff Goldsmith
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew G Rundle
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julie B Herbstman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St. Room 1105, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jin C, Zhang T, Li Y, Shi W. Early-Life Exposure to Malnutrition From the Chinese Famine on Risk of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Adulthood. Front Nutr 2022; 9:848108. [PMID: 35711537 PMCID: PMC9194571 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.848108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Intrauterine malnutrition has a long-term effect on respiratory and lung function. However, few studies have explored the association between early-life exposure to famine with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of early-life exposure to the Chinese famine of 1959–1962 with asthma and COPD later in life. Methods This national population-based study included 6,771 participants from the baseline survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) who were born around the time of the Chinese famine. The famine exposure groups were determined according to the participants' birth year as non-exposed (1964–1967), fetal-exposed (1959–1962), preschool-exposed (1954–1957), and school-age exposed (1950–1953). Information about the demographic characteristics, self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma and COPD, behavior and lifestyles, and indoor pollution were collected using validated questionnaires. In addition, peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured to assess pulmonary function. Multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models were performed to explore the risk of adult asthma and COPD, PEF changes during various famine exposure periods compared with the non-exposed group. Stratified and sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the modification and robustness of the association. Results The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma and COPD was 2.8 and 8.1%, respectively. Compared with the non-exposed group, the risk was significantly higher in the fetal-exposed group for asthma [adjusted odds ratio, (aOR) = 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.14–3.07] and the school-age exposed group [1.30 (1.00–1.69)] for COPD after controlling for confounders. Furthermore, we observed that fetal exposure to famine was significantly associated with a decrement of PEF in adulthood [β = −11.38 (−22.75 to −0.02)] compared with the non-exposed group. Stratified analyses showed that the association of asthma was stronger in men, who resided in severely famine-affected areas, smoked, and used solid fuels for cooking. No clearly consistent association was observed for subsequent COPD. Conclusions Our results suggest that fetal exposure to the Chinese famine is significantly associated with the increased risk of asthma in adulthood. Future prospective studies are warranted to examine the association and mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changbo Jin
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiantian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongzhen Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenming Shi
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Arage G, Belachew T, Abate KH. Early life famine exposure and anthropometric profile in adulthood: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. BMC Nutr 2022; 8:36. [PMID: 35459231 PMCID: PMC9028079 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-022-00523-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous famine studies reported the association between early life famine exposure and adulthood anthropometric profile. However, the findings were variable. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to clarify the association of famine exposure in early life with the anthropometric profiles in adults. Methods Potentially relevant studies were searched through Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar and Google for gray literature and reference lists of previous studies. The random effects model (REM) and I2 test was used to adapt the pooling method and assess heterogeneity, respectively. Results Prenatal famine exposure was associated with increased risk of body mass index [SMD = 0.10 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.18)], waist circumference [SMD = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.31)] in adults. Likewise, famine exposure during prenatal life was associated with decreased adult height [SMD) = − 0.26 (95% CI: − 0.44, − 0.09)]. Moreover, famine exposure during early childhood was associated with increased risk of waist circumference [SMD = 0.09 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.16)] and decreased adult height [SMD = − 0.16 (95% CI: − 0.27, − 0.04)]. Conclusion Our finding indicates that exposure to famine during early life was associated with the anthropometric profile of adults. In terms of public health significance, the results of the study further underscore the importance of improving the nutritional status of mothers and children to prevent adulthood diseases in the long run. Systematic review registration number PROSPERO CRD42020168424 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-022-00523-w.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Getachew Arage
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia. .,Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
| | - Tefera Belachew
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Kalkidan Hassen Abate
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang C, Luo X, Tao B, Du W, Hou L, Chen S, Yang P, Wu S, Li Y. Association between fetal famine exposure and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2022; 47:321-327. [PMID: 35166602 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the effects of fetal experience of famine on the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adults. The analysis included 16 594 participants from the Kailuan Study who were free of diabetes at baseline (2006). According to the date of birth, the individuals born on October 1, 1962 - September 30, 1964, were divided into the non-exposed group (used as the reference group), individuals born on October 1, 1959 - September 30, 1961, were divided into the fetal exposure group, and the early childhood exposure group included those born on October 1, 1956 - September 30, 1958. The cumulative incidence of T2DM for each group was calculated and compared among the 3 groups, and the Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of fetal famine experience on the risk of diabetes. During a median 10.27 years (170 358 person-years) (2006-2017), 3509 incident T2DM cases were identified, with a cumulative incidence rate of 19.46%. The cumulative incidences of T2DM in the non-exposed, fetal exposure, and early childhood exposure groups were 17.38%, 20.85%, and 20.65%, respectively (P < 0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, the hazard ratio (HR) of T2DM in the fetal exposure group was 1.222 (95% confidence interval: 1.087-1.374, P < 0.01), compared with the reference group. The association was modified by sex and hypertension (both P interaction less than 0.05). Fetal famine exposure may increase the risk of developing T2DM in adults. This association was more pronounced among women and those with hypertension. Novelty: The association was modified by sex and hypertension. Long follow-up time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cun Wang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.,Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoyan Luo
- Department of Cardiology, Kailuan General Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Boni Tao
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Wei Du
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Liying Hou
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Shuohua Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Kailuan General Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Shouling Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Kailuan General Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Yun Li
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu D, Yang J, Wang S. Early-life exposure to famine and the risk of general and abdominal obesity in adulthood: a 22-year cohort study. Public Health 2021; 202:113-120. [PMID: 34936979 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate how early-life exposure to famine affected the development of overweight, general obesity and abdominal obesity in Chinese adults. STUDY DESIGN This study was a 22-year cohort study. METHODS Data were derived from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, which is a national prospective cohort study. All participants born between 1949 and 1966 were potentially eligible. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured by trained healthcare workers. Height and weight were used to calculate body mass index, which was used to define general obesity and WC was used to define abdominal obesity. Exposure to famine was defined using the birth date as follows: no exposure (participants born between 1962 and 1966); fetal exposure (participants born between 1959 and 1961); early childhood exposure (participants born between 1956 and 1958); mid-childhood exposure (participants born between 1953 and 1955); and late childhood exposure (participants born between 1949 and 1952). RESULTS In total, 6957 participants were included in this study. Results indicate that exposure to famine was linked to a lower risk of being overweight. Exposure to famine in mid-childhood decreased the risk of general obesity in both males (hazard ratio [HR] 0.485, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.292-0.807 [P = 0.005]) and females (HR 0.426, 95% CI 0.256-0.709 [P = 0.001]). Exposure to famine during any period of childhood decreased the risk of abdominal obesity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to famine in early childhood decreased the risk of overweight and abdominal obesity in adulthood; however, exposure to famine only had a weak role in the development of general obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300450, China
| | - J Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300450, China
| | - S Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300450, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li Y, Sunder N. What doesn't kill her, will make her depressed. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2021; 43:101064. [PMID: 34601324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we study the long run effects of the 1959-61 Chinese Famine on mental health outcomes. We focus on cohorts that were born during the famine and examine their mental health as adults, when they are roughly 55 years of age. We find that early-life exposure to this famine leads to a large statistically significant negative impact on women's mental health, while there is limited effect on men. This gender differential effect is observed because male fetuses experience a stronger natural selection as compared to female fetuses, which implies that in the longer run, surviving females may exhibit larger detrimental effects of early-life famine exposure. Thus, the observed effects are a composite of two well-established factors, the survival of the fittest and the Fetal Origins hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Li
- Business School, Beijing Normal University, 1720 Houzhu Building, No. 19 XinJieKouWai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Naveen Sunder
- Department of Economics, Bentley University, AAC Room 187, 175 Forest St., Waltham, MA, 02452, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee K, Hardy DB. Metabolic Consequences of Gestational Cannabinoid Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9528. [PMID: 34502436 PMCID: PMC8430813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18-24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Oke SL, Lee K, Papp R, Laviolette SR, Hardy DB. In Utero Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Leads to Postnatal Catch-Up Growth and Dysmetabolism in the Adult Rat Liver. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147502. [PMID: 34299119 PMCID: PMC8305322 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The rates of gestational cannabis use have increased despite limited evidence for its safety in fetal life. Recent animal studies demonstrate that prenatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis) promotes intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), culminating in postnatal metabolic deficits. Given IUGR is associated with impaired hepatic function, we hypothesized that Δ9-THC offspring would exhibit hepatic dyslipidemia. Pregnant Wistar rat dams received daily injections of vehicular control or 3 mg/kg Δ9-THC i.p. from embryonic day (E) 6.5 through E22. Exposure to Δ9-THC decreased the liver to body weight ratio at birth, followed by catch-up growth by three weeks of age. At six months, Δ9-THC-exposed male offspring exhibited increased visceral adiposity and higher hepatic triglycerides. This was instigated by augmented expression of enzymes involved in triglyceride synthesis (ACCα, SCD, FABP1, and DGAT2) at three weeks. Furthermore, the expression of hepatic DGAT1/DGAT2 was sustained at six months, concomitant with mitochondrial dysfunction (i.e., elevated p66shc) and oxidative stress. Interestingly, decreases in miR-203a-3p and miR-29a/b/c, both implicated in dyslipidemia, were also observed in these Δ9-THC-exposed offspring. Collectively, these findings indicate that prenatal Δ9-THC exposure results in long-term dyslipidemia associated with enhanced hepatic lipogenesis. This is attributed by mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L. Oke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (S.L.O.); (K.L.); (R.P.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (S.L.O.); (K.L.); (R.P.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Rosemary Papp
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (S.L.O.); (K.L.); (R.P.)
| | - Steven R. Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (S.L.O.); (K.L.); (R.P.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu C, Meng X, Zhang H, Yang F, Pan X, Tang K. Early-life famine exposure and rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese adult populations: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e043416. [PMID: 34226211 PMCID: PMC8258564 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the association between famine exposure in early life and the odds of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adulthood. DESIGN A population-based retrospective cohort study. SETTING China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 111 706 participants (1775 with RA) born from 1956 to 1964 were selected from the baseline survey of a large cohort in China. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Four famine exposure groups were generated based on dates of birth, namely prenatal-exposed, infant-exposed, preschool-exposed and non-exposed groups. Logistic regressions were used to explore the association between famine exposure and self-reported RA in adulthood, adjusting for sex, region, monthly income, highest education, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, body mass index (BMI) and metabolic equivalent tasks. Analyses were also performed with stratification for sex (female or male), residing region (urban or rural), famine severity (severe or non-severe) and BMI (≥24 or <24). RESULTS The study included 1775 (1.59%) RA cases and 109 931 (98.41%) non-RA controls. Among them, 22 413 (20.06%) were prenatal-exposed, 14 899 (13.34%) were infant-exposed and 34 356 (30.76%) were preschool-exposed. Prenatal exposure to famine was not associated with onset of RA in adulthood. Infant-exposed group and preschool-exposed group had significantly elevated odds of getting RA compared with non-exposed group (infant-exposed: OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.67; preschool-exposed: OR=1.38, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.57, p<0.001), and the relationship was stronger among women, urban residents and participants with BMI ≥24. Similar results were additionally observed when an age-balanced control group was used. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to the Great Chinese Famine in early life after birth especially in infancy may be associated with a higher risk of RA in adulthood. Strengthening early-life nutrition could be an implication to prevent future RA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Liu
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangrui Meng
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Pan
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Tang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Oke SL, Hardy DB. The Role of Cellular Stress in Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Postnatal Dysmetabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6986. [PMID: 34209700 PMCID: PMC8268884 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of the in utero environment can have dire consequences on fetal growth and development. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a pathological condition by which the fetus deviates from its expected growth trajectory, resulting in low birth weight and impaired organ function. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) postulates that IUGR has lifelong consequences on offspring well-being, as human studies have established an inverse relationship between birth weight and long-term metabolic health. While these trends are apparent in epidemiological data, animal studies have been essential in defining the molecular mechanisms that contribute to this relationship. One such mechanism is cellular stress, a prominent underlying cause of the metabolic syndrome. As such, this review considers the role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of metabolic disease in IUGR offspring. In addition, we summarize how uncontrolled cellular stress can lead to programmed cell death within the metabolic organs of IUGR offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L. Oke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Exposure to the Great Famine in Early Life and the Risk of Obesity in Adulthood: A Report Based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13041285. [PMID: 33919739 PMCID: PMC8070734 DOI: 10.3390/nu13041285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine malnutrition has a long-term effect on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between exposure to famine in early life and obesity in adulthood in Chinese adults. A total of 5033 participants (22,132 observations) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 1991–2015 were classified into three famine exposure groups according to their birth year: unexposed (1963–1966), fetal-exposed (1959–1962) and childhood-exposed (1955–1958). Compared with the unexposed group, the fetal-exposed group had higher levels of body-mass-index (BMI) and waist-circumference (WC), and higher prevalence of overweight and central obesity, whereas the childhood-exposed group had lower levels of the measurements. However, the positive associations of fetal exposure with BMI, WC and prevalence of overweight and central obesity were attenuated by additionally adjusting for age at survey. Stratified analysis showed that the adverse effect of fetal exposure to famine was only observed in subjects at several specific age-groups, and in men living in rural areas and in women living in more severe famine exposed areas (p for interaction < 0.05). Our results provide evidence for the weak effect of fetal exposure to famine on body measurements in adulthood, and suggest the importance of severity of famine exposure and timing of exposure.
Collapse
|
15
|
Intrauterine growth restriction: Clinical consequences on health and disease at adulthood. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 99:168-176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
16
|
Abstract
Almost 2 billion adults in the world are overweight, and more than half of them are classified as obese, while nearly one-third of children globally experience poor growth and development. Given the vast amount of knowledge that has been gleaned from decades of research on growth and development, a number of questions remain as to why the world is now in the midst of a global epidemic of obesity accompanied by the "double burden of malnutrition," where overweight coexists with underweight and micronutrient deficiencies. This challenge to the human condition can be attributed to nutritional and environmental exposures during pregnancy that may program a fetus to have a higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. To explore this concept, frequently called the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), this review considers a host of factors and physiological mechanisms that drive a fetus or child toward a higher risk of obesity, fatty liver disease, hypertension, and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D). To that end, this review explores the epidemiology of DOHaD with discussions focused on adaptations to human energetics, placental development, dysmetabolism, and key environmental exposures that act to promote chronic diseases in adulthood. These areas are complementary and additive in understanding how providing the best conditions for optimal growth can create the best possible conditions for lifelong health. Moreover, understanding both physiological as well as epigenetic and molecular mechanisms for DOHaD is vital to most fully address the global issues of obesity and other chronic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Hoffman
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Program in International Nutrition, and Center for Childhood Nutrition Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Division of Exposure Science and Epidemiology, Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Division of Exposure Science and Epidemiology, Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Associations of early-life exposure to famine with abdominal fat accumulation are independent of family history of diabetes and physical activity. Br J Nutr 2020; 125:943-950. [PMID: 32873353 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114520003414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the association of early-life exposure to famine with abdominal fat accumulation and function and further evaluate the influence of first-degree family history of diabetes and physical activity on this association. The present work analysed parts of the REACTION study. A total of 3033 women were enrolled. Central obesity was defined as waist circumferences (W) ≥ 85 cm. Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) was used to evaluate visceral adipose distribution and function. Partial correlation analysis showed BMI, W, glycated Hb and CVAI were associated with early-life exposure to famine (both P < 0·05). Logistic regression showed that the risks of overall overweight/obesity and central obesity in fetal, early-childhood, mid-childhood and late-childhood exposed subgroups were increased significantly (all P < 0·05). Compared with the non-exposed group, the BMI, W and CVAI of fetal, early- to late-childhood exposed subgroups were significantly increased both in those with or without first-degree family history of diabetes and in those classified as physically active or inactive, respectively (all P < 0·05). The associations of BMI, W and CVAI with early-life exposure to famine were independent of their associations with first-degree family history of diabetes (all P < 0·01) or physical activity status (all P < 0·001). Early-life exposure to famine contributed to abdominal fat accumulation and dysfunction, which was independent of the influence of genetic background and exercise habits. Physical activity could serve as a supplementary intervention for women with high risk of central obesity.
Collapse
|
18
|
Fetal Exposure to Chinese Famine Increases Obesity Risk in Adulthood. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17103649. [PMID: 32456074 PMCID: PMC7277851 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fetal exposure to famine may have long-term consequences in adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to explore the association between famine exposure in fetal life (Chinese famine in 1959–1961) and obesity risk in adulthood. A total of 8054 subjects (3422 male, 4632 female) were recruited from the cross-sectional 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS). The subjects born in 1960 and 1961 were selected as the exposed group, while the subjects born in 1963 were selected as the unexposed group. Multiple linear or logistic regression was performed to examine the association between fetal exposure to famine and risk of obesity (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), obesity, central obesity) adjusting for gender, education level, economic status, physical exercise, sedentary time, smoking, drinking, the intake of livestock and poultry and the intake of cereal and beans. Compared with the unexposed group, WC increased by 0.52 cm after adjusting the covariates (p = 0.021) and females in the exposed group had a significantly higher prevalence of central obesity with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.15 (1.01,1.31) after adjusting the confounders (p = 0.030). WC increased by 0.71 cm, 1.21 cm after adjusting the covariates compared with the unexposed group among the total subjects and the female subjects in urban areas (p = 0.021, p = 0.001). The female subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and central obesity, with ORs of 1.34 (1.04,1.71) (p = 0.022), 1.28 (1.07,1.53) (p = 0.008) respectively. Our results suggest that fetal exposure to the Chinese famine increased obesity risk in adulthood, and the association was stronger in female and urban subjects.
Collapse
|
19
|
Hidayat K, Du X, Shi BM, Qin LQ. Foetal and childhood exposure to famine and the risks of cardiometabolic conditions in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Obes Rev 2020; 21:e12981. [PMID: 32048436 DOI: 10.1111/obr.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed to provide a deeper understanding of the associations between foetal and childhood exposure to famine and the risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, obesity, overweight, coronary heart disease, stroke, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adulthood. Both foetal and childhood exposure to famine were positively associated with the risks of T2DM (foetal exposure: RR 1.37, 95% CI, 1.23-1.52; childhood exposure: RR 1.33, 95% CI, 1.08-1.64), metabolic syndrome (RR 1.26, 95% CI, 1.07-1.50; RR 1.24, 95% CI, 1.13-1.35), hypertension (RR 1.30, 95% CI, 1.07-1.57; RR 1.33, 95% CI, 1.02-1.74), hyperglycaemia (RR 1.27, 95% CI, 1.11-1.45; RR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.10-1.42), dyslipidaemia (RR 1.48, 95% CI, 1.33-1.66; RR 1.27, 95% CI, 1.12-1.45), obesity (RR 1.19, 95% CI, 1.02-1.39; RR 1.13, 95% CI, 1.00-1.28), overweight (RR 1.17, 95% CI, 1.07-1.29; RR 1.07, 95% CI, 1.00-1.14), coronary heart disease (RR 1.22, 95% CI, 1.00-1.51; RR 1.21, 95% CI, 1.09-1.35), and moderate-to-severe NAFLD (RR 1.66, 95% CI, 1.07-2.57; RR 1.68, 95% CI, 1.41-1.99) in adulthood. No association was observed for the risks of stroke or mild NAFLD. Adjustments for age, alcohol, smoking, body mass index, and physical activity nullified some associations. The associations were generally stronger in women than in men. In summary, foetal and childhood exposure to famine may confer greater risks of developing certain cardiometabolic conditions in adulthood, particularly in women. The extent to which risks for cardiometabolic conditions are associated with early-life famine appears to be determined by certain factors in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khemayanto Hidayat
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xuan Du
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bi-Min Shi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Li-Qiang Qin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gomez-Verjan JC, Barrera-Vázquez OS, García-Velázquez L, Samper-Ternent R, Arroyo P. Epigenetic variations due to nutritional status in early-life and its later impact on aging and disease. Clin Genet 2020; 98:313-321. [PMID: 32246454 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics refers to changes in gene function, not resulting from the primary DNA sequence, influenced by the environment. It provides a link between the molecular regulation of the genome and the environmental signals exposed during the life of individuals (including lifestyle, social behavior, development, and nutrition). Notably, early development (intrauterine or postnatal) is highly influenced by the adverse socioeconomic status that leads to malnutrition or obesity; these conditions induce changes over the fetal epigenetic programming and can be transferred by transgenerational inheritance, inducing alterations of the transcription of genes related to several metabolic and neurological processes. Moreover, obesity during pregnancy, and excessive gestational weight gain are associated with an increased risk of fatal pregnancy complications, and adverse cardio-metabolic, respiratory and cognitive-related outcomes of the future child. However, most of our knowledge in this field comes from experimental animal models, that partially resemble the nutritional effects of humans. In this context, nutritional effects implicated in historical famines represent valuable information about the transgenerational effects of undernutrition and stress. In the present review, we attempt to describe the most outstanding results from the most studied famines about the impact of malnutrition on the epigenome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Gomez-Verjan
- División de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría (INGER), Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Lizbeth García-Velázquez
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rafael Samper-Ternent
- Geriatric/Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Pedro Arroyo
- División de Epidemiología, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría (INGER), Mexico City, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Yao H, Li L. Famine Exposure during the Fetal Period Increased the Risk of Dyslipidemia in Female Adults. Lipids 2020; 54:301-309. [PMID: 31087414 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Chronic diseases are gradually becoming public health challenges around the world. This study was designed to explore the relationship between early life exposure to famine in China and the risk of dyslipidemia during adulthood. A total of 604 subjects born from 1955 to 1965 received a health checkup and completed a questionnaire survey at the health management center of the tertiary hospital in Hefei, China, in 2013. A logistic regression model was used to assess dyslipidemia in famine-exposed and nonexposed individuals. Overall, exposure to famine during the fetal (OR 1.37; 95% CI: 0.90-2.10; and p = 0.14) and childhood (OR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.67-1.41; and p = 0.89) periods did not significantly increase the risk of dyslipidemia in adulthood compared with no exposure group. For females, exposure to famine during the fetal period (OR 2.00; 95% CI: 1.03-3.86; and p = 0.04) significantly increased the risk of dyslipidemia in adulthood compared to no exposure; however, this difference was not found in males. Exposure to famine in early life leads to altered lipid distribution in adulthood, and the risk of dyslipidemia significantly increased in adult women who were exposed to famine during the fetal period. Our study further validated the relationship between famine exposure during pregnancy and increased risk of dyslipidemia in female adult offspring. This study provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of abnormal blood lipid levels in adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Yao
- Department of Food and Nutrition Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Food and Nutrition Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Stein AD, Obrutu OE, Behere RV, Yajnik CS. Developmental undernutrition, offspring obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 2019; 62:1773-1778. [PMID: 31451877 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-019-4930-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm posits that a mismatch between circumstances at or around conception and in later life leads to metabolic dysregulation and the development of obesity and diabetes. In this review we highlight three strands of evidence: prospective studies of patterns of growth from birth to adulthood, historical studies of exposure to famine at defined points during gestation and early life, and nutrition intervention studies. We conclude that, while much is still unknown, it is becoming clearer that the combination of early-life undernutrition and later development of obesity is associated with increased risk of diabetes. There is a need to support public health programmes aimed at intergenerational (primordial) prevention of diabetes and other non-communicable disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aryeh D Stein
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Okezi E Obrutu
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rishikesh V Behere
- Diabetes Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Rasta Peth, Pune, 411011, India
| | - Chittaranjan S Yajnik
- Diabetes Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Rasta Peth, Pune, 411011, India.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wang S, Du X, Han X, Yang F, Zhao J, Li H, Li M, Zhang H, Liu W, Song J, Cao G. Influence of socioeconomic events on cause-specific mortality in urban Shanghai, China, from 1974 to 2015: a population-based longitudinal study. CMAJ 2019; 190:E1153-E1161. [PMID: 30274992 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.180272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how socioeconomic events influence cause-specific mortality is essential for optimizing disease-control strategies. We characterized long-term trends in cause-specific mortality in a stable population from a very large urban centre. METHODS We derived population data from 1974 to 2015 on vital status, demographics and causes of death from the death registration system in Yangpu District, Shanghai, China. We examined temporal trends in mortality and assessed the effects of age, period and birth cohort. RESULTS Over 41 879 864 person-years of follow-up, we analyzed 290 332 deaths: 3.80% from communicable conditions (group 1), 86.50% from noncommunicable diseases (group 2), and 5.56% from injuries (group 3). Age-standardized mortality decreased after 1988 for group 1 (average annual percentage change [AAPC] -6.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] -9.3 to -4.1), after 1995 for group 2 (AAPC -2.9, 95% CI -3.5 to -2.3), and after 1994 for group 3 (AAPC -5.4, 95% CI -6.3 to -4.5), after improvements in public health and clinical service infrastructure and the removal of polluting industries during the 1980s. We observed increased mortality from group 2 and group 3 causes in those born between 1955 and 1965, a period that included the Great Chinese Famine. Cause-specific mortality risks increased in those born after 1949 for cancer and diabetes only. INTERPRETATION Birth cohorts exposed to extreme starvation in early life had increased premature cause-specific mortality in later life. Decreased cause-specific mortality followed improvements in public health, medical infrastructure and pollution control, but not for cancer or diabetes, likely because of exposure to new risk factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyu Du
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Mi Li
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahui Song
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangwen Cao
- Department of Epidemiology (Wang, Du, Yang, M. Li, Zhang, Liu, Song, Cao), Second Military Medical University; Department of Chronic Diseases (Han, Zhao, H. Li), Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhang H, Qu X, Wang H, Tang K. Early life famine exposure to the Great Chinese Famine in 1959-1961 and subsequent pregnancy loss: a population-based study. BJOG 2019; 127:39-45. [PMID: 31444892 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.15908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the relation between famine exposure in early life and subsequent pregnancy loss, including stillbirth, and spontaneous abortion in adulthood. DESIGN A population-based, partly ecological study. SETTING AND POPULATION Individual data of 58 601 females born around the time of the Great Chinese Famine in 1959-1961. METHODS Associations between the famine exposure in early life and pregnancy loss (stillbirth and spontaneous abortion) in adulthood were analysed using negative binomial regression, with the non-exposure group as reference, adjusting for region, highest education, monthly income, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, body mass index in 25-year-olds and metabolic equivalent. Further analyses were stratified by rural versus urban region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Continuous variables of times of stillbirths and spontaneous abortions were used according to the individual self-reported reproductive history. RESULTS No association was found between famine exposure and spontaneous abortion. In contrast, females experiencing the famine during their prenatal period (incidence rate ratio = 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.33) or infant period (incidence rate ratio = 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44) were more likely to report stillbirth in later adult life. Such an association appeared stronger in women living in rural regions. CONCLUSIONS Early life exposure of famine was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth but not spontaneous abortion in adulthood. The strength of such an association appeared stronger in rural areas. Given the high potential for unmeasured confounding, these associations must be interpreted with caution. Regarding the potential implication that undernutrition in the fetal period is related to reproductive outcome in adulthood, fetal nutritional supply may play an important role in human reproduction. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Exposure to famine in early life was associated with increased pregnancy loss in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Zhang
- School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - X Qu
- School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H Wang
- Institute for Medical Humanities, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing, China
| | - K Tang
- Research Centre for Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lee YQ, Beckett EL, Sculley DV, Rae KM, Collins CE, Pringle KG. Relationship between maternal global nutrient restriction during pregnancy and offspring kidney structure and function: a systematic review of animal studies. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2019; 316:F1227-F1235. [DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00082.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal undernutrition during pregnancy is prevalent across the globe, and the origins of many chronic diseases can be traced back to in utero conditions. This systematic review considers the current evidence in animal models regarding the relationship between maternal global nutrient restriction during pregnancy and offspring kidney structure and function. CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus were searched to November 2017. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed, and articles were screened by two independent reviewers. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria: 16 studies were on rats, 9 on sheep, 2 on baboons, and 1 on goats. The majority of the rat studies had maternal global nutrient restriction during pregnancy at 50% of ad libitum while restriction for sheep and baboon studies ranged from 50% to 75%. Because of the heterogeneity of outcome measures and the large variation in the age of offspring at followup, no meta-analysis was possible. Common outcome measures included kidney weight, nephron number, glomerular size, glomerular filtration rate, and creatinine clearance. To date, there have been no studies assessing kidney function in large animal models. Most studies were rated as having a high or unknown risk of bias. The current body of evidence in animals suggests that exposure to maternal global nutrient restriction during pregnancy has detrimental effects on offspring kidney structure and function, such as lower kidney weight, lower nephron endowment, larger glomerular size, and lower glomerular filtration rate. Further long-term followup of studies in large animal models investigating kidney function through to adulthood are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Qi Lee
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma L. Beckett
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dean V. Sculley
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kym M. Rae
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Gomeroi Gaaynggal Center, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
- Priority Research Center for Generational Health and Aging, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Clare E. Collins
- Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kirsty G. Pringle
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Gomeroi Gaaynggal Center, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Han C, Hong YC. Fetal and childhood malnutrition during the Korean War and metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Nutrition 2019; 62:186-193. [PMID: 30921555 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Koreans experienced unexpected shortages of food and refugee life during the Korean War (1950-1953). In the present study, we used the Korean War as a natural experiment for early life malnutrition with the aim of evaluating the risk for metabolic syndrome in adulthood according to participant exposure status during the Korean War. METHODS We used data from 25 708 participants from the fourth through seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative database of Korea. By years of birth, we divided the study participants into non-exposed (1959-1963 and 1954-1958), fetal-exposed (1951-1953), early childhood-exposed (1946-1950), late-childhood-exposed (1941-1945), and adolescent-exposed (1936-1940) groups according to participants' ages during the Korean War. We calculated the risk for metabolic syndrome in adult life using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Compared with the non-exposed group, women exposed to the Korean War while in utero and during early childhood were associated with increased risk for abdominal obesity and elevated triacylglycerol levels, whereas men showed low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Fetal and early childhood exposure increased the risk for metabolic syndrome in adults compared with the non-exposed group (fetal-exposed men: odds ratio [OR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.76; fetal-exposed women: OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.80; early-childhood-exposed men OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.82-1.90; and early-childhood-exposed women OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 0.97-2.06). CONCLUSIONS Fetal and early childhood experiences during the Korean War were associated with increased risk for some components of metabolic syndrome. The present study suggested that early life malnutrition due to the Korean War may be associated with metabolic syndrome in later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changwoo Han
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea; Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Xia Q, Cai H, Xiang Y, Zhou P, Li H, Yang G, Jiang Y, Shu X, Zheng W, Xu W. Prospective cohort studies of birth weight and risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in adulthood among the Chinese population. J Diabetes 2019; 11:55-64. [PMID: 29893042 PMCID: PMC6334524 DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low birth weight (LBW) has been associated with subsequent risks of obesity and certain chronic diseases, but evidence for the associations is limited for the Chinese population. METHODS In this study we analyzed data from two population-based prospective cohort studies, the Shanghai Women's Health Study and the Shanghai Men's Health Study, to examine the associations between LBW and the risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Birth weight was self-reported at baseline; anthropometric measurements were made at study enrollment. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) diagnoses were self-reported, whereas hypertension diagnoses were based on self-report and blood pressure measurements at baseline and follow-up surveys. RESULTS Birth weight was available for 11 515 men and 13 569 women. Non-linear associations were observed for birth weight with baseline body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist: hip ratio (WHR), and waist: height ratio (WHtR; P < 0.05 for non-linearity), and LBW was linked with lower BMI, smaller WC, and larger WHR and WHtR. An excess risk of T2DM was observed for LBW (<2500 g) versus birth weight 2500-3499 g since baseline (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-1.49) and since birth (HR 1.29; 95% CI 1.07-1.54), whereas the HRs for hypertension since baseline and birth were 1.13 (95% CI 1.01-1.27) and 1.20 (95% CI 1.11-1.30), respectively. The risk of the diseases decreased as birth weight increased up to ~4000 g; further increases in birth weight did not convey additional benefits. CONCLUSION The results suggest that LBW, an index of poor intrauterine nutrition, may affect health risks later in life in the Chinese population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Xia
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Changning DistrictShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Cai
- Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Department of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yong‐Bing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogene and Related Genes and Department of EpidemiologyShanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Peng Zhou
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Changning DistrictShanghaiChina
| | - Honglan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogene and Related Genes and Department of EpidemiologyShanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Gong Yang
- Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Department of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yu Jiang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Changning DistrictShanghaiChina
| | - Xiao‐Ou Shu
- Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Department of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Department of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Wang‐Hong Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public HealthFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Risk of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes after Early-Life Famine Exposure: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Northeastern China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15061125. [PMID: 29857478 PMCID: PMC6024897 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies suggested that malnutrition during early life may play an essential role in later outcomes and disease risk in adulthood. We aimed to investigate the risks of hyperglycemia and diabetes 50 years after early-life famine exposure in a Northeastern Chinese population. We used the data from 5690 adults born between 1956 and 1965 in selected communities from a 2012 cross-sectional study. The early-childhood exposure cohort showed an increased risk of hyperglycemia compared with the unexposed cohort in the female population (odds ratio (OR) 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 2.06). The increased risk of diabetes in the early-childhood and fetal exposure cohorts was 37.0% (95% CI 1.05–1.79) and 50% (95% CI 1.15–1.96), respectively. For women, the risk of diabetes was more pronounced in the fetal-exposed cohort (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.26–2.63) than in the early-childhood cohort (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.08–2.26). Early-life exposure to famine increased the risk of diabetes. Furthermore, early-childhood exposure to famine might increase the risk of hyperglycemia in women. A policy for preventing early life malnutrition should be drafted by the government to prevent hyperglycemia and diabetes in adulthood.
Collapse
|
29
|
Li C, Lumey LH. Exposure to the Chinese famine of 1959-61 in early life and long-term health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Epidemiol 2018; 46:1157-1170. [PMID: 28338900 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Most Chinese people over 55 years old today have experienced the Great Leap Forward Famine of 1959-61. Many reports suggested that the famine could have profound long-term health effects for exposed birth cohorts. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to summarize reported famine effects on long-term health. Methods Relevant reports were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Chinese Wanfang Data and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Long-term health conditions were compared in exposed birth cohorts and unexposed controls. Fixed-effects models and random-effects models were used to combine results on adult overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, the metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia. The heterogeneity across reports was assessed. Subgroup analyses were carried out using reported famine severity, provincial mortality during famine, sex and other report characteristics. Results In all, 36 reports were eligible for systematic review and 21 could be used for meta-analysis. The number of events we analysed ranged from 1029 for hyperglycaemia to 8973 for hypertension. As reported by others, overweight, type 2 diabetes, hyperglycaemia, the metabolic syndrome, and schizophrenia were more common among adults born during the famine compared with controls born after the famine. By contrast, there were no increases in overweight [odds ratio (OR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27-1.72], type 2 diabetes (OR 0.96; 95% CI: 0.73-1.28), hyperglycaemia (OR 0.99; 95% CI: 0.72-1.36) or the metabolic syndrome (OR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.22) comparing adults born during the famine with controls born either after or before the famine. For schizophrenia, the effect estimates (OR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.50-1.70, combining control groups) were similar in the two scenarios. Conclusions Our findings suggest that uncontrolled age differences between famine and post-famine births could explain most effects commonly attributed to the famine. For more reliable estimates of long-term famine effects in China, other analyses will be needed with age-appropriate controls and better information on the severity and timing of the famine in the populations included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chihua Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - L H Lumey
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Chen C, Zhao L, Ning Z, Li Q, Han B, Cheng J, Chen Y, Nie X, Xia F, Wang N, Lu Y. Famine exposure in early life is associated with visceral adipose dysfunction in adult females. Eur J Nutr 2018; 58:1625-1633. [PMID: 29752538 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-018-1707-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epidemiologic studies have revealed that early life malnutrition increases later risk of metabolic diseases. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a novel sex-specific index that shows promise as a marker of visceral adipose dysfunction. We aimed to explore whether exposure to the Chinese famine between 1959 and 1962 during fetal and childhood periods was related to VAI in adulthood. METHODS Our data source was SPECT-China, a population-based cross-sectional study in East China. Overall, 5295 subjects from 16 sites were divided into fetal-exposed (1959-1962), childhood-exposed (1949-1958), adolescence/young adult-exposed (1921-1948), and non-exposed (1963-1974) groups. The associations of life periods when exposed to famine with VAI were assessed via linear regression. RESULTS Compared with the non-exposed women (1963-1974), the fetal- and the childhood-exposed women had significantly greater VAI values (P < 0.05), but this difference was not observed in men. In the fetal- and childhood-exposed women, there was a significant positive association of famine exposure with VAI after adjusting for age, current smoking, rural/urban residence, and economic status (both P < 0.05). Further adjustments for diabetes and hypertension did not attenuate this association (both P < 0.05). However, such association was not observed in men. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to famine in early life may have a significant association with visceral adipose dysfunction in adult females. The fetal age and childhood may be important time windows for nutrition relief to prevent visceral adipose dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi Chen
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Zhiyuan Ning
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Qin Li
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xiaomin Nie
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Fangzhen Xia
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Ningjian Wang
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Yingli Lu
- Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Zhou J, Zhang L, Xuan P, Fan Y, Yang L, Hu C, Bo Q, Wang G, Sheng J, Wang S. The relationship between famine exposure during early life and body mass index in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192212. [PMID: 29408921 PMCID: PMC5800668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous epidemiologic studies have reported famine exposure during early life association with overweight or obesity in adulthood, but a consistent perspective has not been established to date. Purpose To determine, by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis, whether exposure to famine could increase body mass index (BMI) in adult or not, and assess the association between famine exposure and the risk of overweight or obesity. Methods Published articles were systematically searched (until August, 2017) from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Initially, comparing differences in BMI between exposed and non-exposed groups that weight mean difference (WMD) were used. Subsequently, the effect of famine exposure on overweight or obesity risk, which pooled relative risks (RRs), odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Result Twenty studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Compared with non-exposed group, famine exposure group significantly increased the risk of overweight (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.16) and obesity (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05–1.24). Sensitivity analyses revealed no significant change in the famine exposure and BMI, the risk of overweight and obesity study when any one study was excluded. Subgroup analyses showed that age, gender, exposure type, study type, continent, famine cause and paper publication date were associated with BMI, the risk of overweight and obesity. Meta-regression analyses suggested that continent, famine cause could partially explain heterogeneity for famine exposure and BMI studies. Conclusion The systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that famine exposure during early life may increase BMI, the risk of overweight and obesity, especially for female, fetal famine exposure or subject age less than 50. Furthermore, famine exposure group the risk of overweight and obesity in cross-sectional studies, Asian studies, famine cause by natural disaster or paper published from 2015 to the present studies are higher than that of non-exposed group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jielin Zhou
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Liangjian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Peng Xuan
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Yong Fan
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Linsheng Yang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Chunqiu Hu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Qingli Bo
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Guoxiu Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Jie Sheng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Sufang Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Chang X, Song P, Wang M, An L. The Risks of Overweight, Obesity and Abdominal Obesity in Middle Age after Exposure to Famine in Early Life: Evidence from the China's 1959-1961 Famine. J Nutr Health Aging 2018; 22:1198-1204. [PMID: 30498826 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-018-1144-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Several studies have revealed that exposure to famine in early life was associated with higher body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference, and most of them used data from cross-sectional studies and defined those born before or after the famine period as non-exposed participants, which ignored the effects caused by age. Our objective was to study the effects of undernutrition in early life on overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in those aged 54-56. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study with the status at age of 54-56 as outcomes. 1092 participants born between 1959 and 1961 from 2015 wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were defined as exposed and 1616 born between 1955 and 1957 from 2011 wave of CHARLS were defined as control. We used the prevalence odds ratios(ORs) to estimate the risks of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, and stratified by famine severity and sex separately for comparisons. RESULTS Exposed group had higher risks of overweight (OR 1.357, 95%CI 1.067,1.727) and obesity (OR 1.356, 95%CI 1.001,1.836) in women, not in men. Participants in exposed group were more likely to have abdominal obesity (OR 1.362, 95%CI 1.139,1.629), regardless of famine severity and gender. CONCLUSION Undernutrition in early life increased the risks of overweight and obesity in women not in men. And the risk of abdominal obesity was increased with the experience of undernutrition at early age both in men and women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X Chang
- Lin An, Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Hu XF, Liu GG, Fan M. Long-Term Effects of Famine on Chronic Diseases: Evidence from China's Great Leap Forward Famine. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2017; 26:922-936. [PMID: 27311596 DOI: 10.1002/hec.3371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We evaluate the long-term effects of famine on chronic diseases using China's Great Leap Forward Famine as a natural experiment. Using a unique health survey, we explore the heterogeneity of famine intensity across regions and find strong evidence supporting both the adverse effect and the selection effect. The two offsetting effects co-exist and their magnitudes vary in different age cohorts at the onset of famine. The selection effect is dominant among the prenatal/infant famine-exposed cohort, while the adverse effect appears dominant among the childhood/puberty famine-exposed cohort. The net famine effects are more salient in rural residents and non-migrants subsamples. Gender differences are also found, and are sensitive to smoking and drinking behaviors. Our conclusion is robust to various specifications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Feng Hu
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Gordon G Liu
- National School of Development, Beijing University, China
| | - Maoyong Fan
- Department of Economics, Ball State University, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhang L, Shen L, Xu D, Wang L, Guo Y, Liu Z, Liu Y, Liu L, Magdalou J, Chen L, Wang H. Increased susceptibility of prenatal food restricted offspring to high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is intrauterine programmed. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 65:236-247. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
35
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The huge percentages of persons with obesity in many countries constitute a public health crisis. The severe consequences of obesity for physical health and emotional wellbeing already emerge in childhood. Therefore, the acknowledgment of early risk factors is essential to provide recommendations for prevention strategies. This review outlines the current state of research concerning early risk factors for obesity, that is, factors that even contribute to later obesity of the offspring during gestation. In this regard, this review specifically addresses the link between restricted eating behavior of the mother and obesity in her offspring. We systematically searched for articles in PsychINFO, PsychINDEX, MEDLINE, PubMed, MEDPILOT, and Web of Science, and we identified additional studies in bibliographies. RECENT FINDINGS Although some risk factors (e.g., short period of breastfeeding, gestational diabetes, and high maternal BMI) have a vast evidence base, others (e.g., restricted eating behavior and second-hand smoking) are insufficiently studied. SUMMARY Physical activity and diet programs in pregnancy can reduce not only the occurrence of gestational diabetes, but also the risk of inappropriate weight gain. As smoking during pregnancy and inappropriate eating behavior are associated with lower education, psychoeducation, for instance in sex education classes, could be easily conceivable.
Collapse
|
36
|
Fan W, Qian Y. Long-term health and socioeconomic consequences of early-life exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2015; 49:53-69. [PMID: 25432603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This research investigates long-term consequences of early-life malnutrition by examining effects of the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine. Taking into account temporal and geographic variations in famine severity, we construct a difference-in-differences estimator to identify effects of early-life exposure to famine on perceived health and socioeconomic outcomes in midlife. Using a sample of 1716 adults born in 1955-1966 in rural China from a nationally representative survey-the 2005 Chinese General Social Survey-we find that the famine had adverse effects on mid-life health for males born into families where at least one parent was a Communist Party member and females regardless of parental party membership. Being born during the famine had no effects on years of education or income for either gender. Quantile regressions suggest intense mortality selection among males who had no party-affiliated parents. Our study highlights the importance of timing and contexts of life experiences in shaping health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Fan
- Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, United States.
| | - Yue Qian
- Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
How early life events program adult disease is undergoing a transition from the broad field of maternal malnutrition to the current relevant issues of food deserts and prematurity. Although many adult diseases and morbidities associate with various early life events and programming, the morbidities of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and obesity seem to be common end points of many early life events despite potential confounders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Lane
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Suite 720, PO Box 1997, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Early life effects across the life course: the impact of individually defined exogenous measures of disease exposure on mortality by sex in 19th- and 20th-century Southern Sweden. Soc Sci Med 2014; 119:266-73. [PMID: 24866846 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Using micro-level longitudinal data from Southern Sweden for 1813 to 1968, this work evaluates the effect of exposure to disease in early life on mortality over the entire life course and separately by sex. The local rates of post-early neonatal mortality are considered indicators of early life disease exposure, and these rates are calculated specifically for each person based on birth date. The loss in median remaining life among exposed individuals who survived to age 1 is 1.1 years for females and 2.1 years for males. Exposed individuals show a cross-over from lower to higher relative mortality as they age. This change occurs in adulthood for males and in old age for females. During adulthood, exposed males present higher rates of death than exposed females. These results are new to the literature and shed light on the importance of adopting a full life course approach and capturing sex differences when evaluating the long-term impacts of early life exposures.
Collapse
|
39
|
Devakumar D, Birch M, Osrin D, Sondorp E, Wells JCK. The intergenerational effects of war on the health of children. BMC Med 2014; 12:57. [PMID: 24694212 PMCID: PMC3997818 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-12-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The short- and medium-term effects of conflict on population health are reasonably well documented. Less considered are its consequences across generations and potential harms to the health of children yet to be born. DISCUSSION Looking first at the nature and effects of exposures during conflict, and then at the potential routes through which harm may propagate within families, we consider the intergenerational effects of four features of conflict: violence, challenges to mental health, infection and malnutrition. Conflict-driven harms are transmitted through a complex permissive environment that includes biological, cultural and economic factors, and feedback loops between sources of harm and weaknesses in individual and societal resilience to them. We discuss the multiplicative effects of ongoing conflict when hostilities are prolonged. SUMMARY We summarize many instances in which the effects of war can propagate across generations. We hope that the evidence laid out in the article will stimulate research and--more importantly--contribute to the discussion of the costs of war; particularly in the longer-term in post-conflict situations in which interventions need to be sustained and adapted over many years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delan Devakumar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jonathan CK Wells
- Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Huang C, Phillips MR, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Shi Q, Song Z, Ding Z, Pang S, Martorell R. Malnutrition in early life and adult mental health: evidence from a natural experiment. Soc Sci Med 2013; 97:259-66. [PMID: 23313495 PMCID: PMC3726543 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.09.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Revised: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
As natural experiments, famines provide a unique opportunity to test the health consequences of nutritional deprivation during the critical period of early life. Using data on 4972 Chinese born between 1956 and 1963 who participated in a large mental health epidemiology survey conducted between 2001 and 2005, we investigated the potential impact of exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine in utero and during the early postnatal life on adult mental illness. The risk of mental illness was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and eight other risk factors, and the famine impact on adult mental illness was estimated by difference-in-difference models. Results show that compared with unexposed women born in 1963, women born during the famine years (1959-1961) had higher GHQ scores (increased by 0.95 points; CI: 0.26, 1.65) and increased risk of mental illness (OR = 2.80; CI: 1.23, 6.39); those born in 1959 were the most affected and had GHQ scores 1.52 points higher (CI: 0.42, 2.63) and an OR for mental illness of 4.99 (CI: 1.68, 14.84). Compared to men in the 1963 birth cohort, men born during the famine had lower GHQ scores (decreased by 0.89 points; CI: -1.59, -0.20) and a nonsignificant decrease in the risk of mental illness (OR = 0.60; CI: 0.26, 1.40). We speculate that the long-term consequences of early-life famine exposure include both the selection of the hardiest and the enduring deleterious effects of famine on those who survive. The greater biological vulnerability and stronger natural selection in utero of male versus female fetuses during severe famine may result in a stronger selection effect among men than women, obscuring the deleterious impact of famine exposure on the risk of mental illness in men later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Huang
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Baker MS, Li G, Kohorst JJ, Waterland RA. Fetal growth restriction promotes physical inactivity and obesity in female mice. Int J Obes (Lond) 2013; 39:98-104. [PMID: 23924758 PMCID: PMC3872504 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2013.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental exposures during critical periods of prenatal and early postnatal life affect the development of mammalian body weight regulatory mechanisms, influencing lifelong risk of obesity. The specific biological processes that mediate the persistence of such effects, however, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to determine the developmental timing and physiological basis of the obesity-promoting effect previously reported in offspring of obese agouti viable yellow (A(vy)/a) mothers. DESIGN Newborn offspring of obese A(vy)/a and lean (a/a) mothers were cross-fostered shortly after birth to study separately the effects of in utero or suckling period exposure to A(vy)/a dams. Body composition, food intake, physical activity and energy expenditure were measured in offspring shortly after weaning and in adulthood. RESULTS Offspring of obese A(vy)/a dams paradoxically experienced fetal growth restriction, which was followed by adult-onset obesity specifically in females. Our main analyses focused on wild-type (a/a) offspring, because a subset of adult A(vy)/a offspring contracted a kidney disease resembling diabetic nephropathy. Detailed physiological characterization demonstrated that, both shortly after weaning and in adulthood, female wild-type mice born to A(vy)/a mothers are not hyperphagic but have reduced physical activity and energy expenditure. No such coordinated changes were detected in male offspring. Mediational regression analysis of our longitudinal data supported a causal pathway in which fetal growth restriction persistently reduces physical activity, leading to adult obesity. CONCLUSIONS Our data are consistent with several recent human epidemiological studies showing female-specific effects of perinatal nutritional restriction on later obesity, and provide the novel mechanistic insight that this may occur via permanent and sex-specific changes in one's inherent propensity for physical activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M S Baker
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J J Kohorst
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - R A Waterland
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA [2] Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Prenatal food restriction induces a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis-associated neuroendocrine metabolic programmed alteration in adult offspring rats. Arch Med Res 2013; 44:335-45. [PMID: 23911676 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intrauterine growth restriction produces susceptibility to adult metabolic syndrome, which may be caused by the permanent alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. We aimed to verify that HPA axis-associated neuroendocrine metabolic programming is altered in food-restricted (FR) offspring. METHODS Maternal rats were fed a restricted diet from gestational day 11 until full-term delivery, all pups were fed a high-fat diet after weaning and exposed to unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) during postnatal weeks 17-20. RESULTS Serum levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and corticosterone in adult offspring of the prenatal FR group were lower than the control (CN) rats before UCS but increased significantly after UCS. Serum glucose levels in the FR group were normal before UCS but increased after UCS. Serum insulin levels were significantly decreased in FR males but showed a slight increase in FR females before UCS; however, insulin levels decreased significantly in the FR male and female rats after UCS. Before UCS, serum lipid levels were higher in the FR males but were normal in the FR females; after UCS, FR males had a slight decrease and FR females had an increasing trend in serum lipids levels. Lipid droplets in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and livers of the FR group indicated steatosis. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that prenatal food restriction alters HPA axis-associated neuroendocrine metabolism in adult offspring fed a high-fat diet, which may originate from the intrauterine programming and increase the susceptibility to adult metabolic diseases.
Collapse
|
43
|
van Ewijk RJG, Painter RC, Roseboom TJ. Associations of prenatal exposure to Ramadan with small stature and thinness in adulthood: results from a large Indonesian population-based study. Am J Epidemiol 2013; 177:729-36. [PMID: 23486307 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwt023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that maternal diet during pregnancy can lead to permanent alterations to the physiology of the fetus. It is unknown whether intermittent maternal fasting during Ramadan has long-term associations with the offspring's body composition. By using data from the third wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (2000), we compared the body mass indices (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)) of Muslims who had been in utero during Ramadan with those of Muslims who had not been in utero during Ramadan. Adult Muslims who had been in utero during Ramadan were slightly thinner than Muslims who had not been in utero during Ramadan (adjusted adult body mass index: -0.32, 95% confidence interval: -0.57, -0.06). Those who were conceived during Ramadan also had smaller stature, being on average 0.80 cm shorter than those who were not exposed to Ramadan prenatally. Among non-Muslims, no such associations were found. This study suggests that exposure to Ramadan during pregnancy may have lasting consequences for adult body size of the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reyn J G van Ewijk
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Whitaker KW, Totoki K, Reyes TM. Metabolic adaptations to early life protein restriction differ by offspring sex and post-weaning diet in the mouse. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2012; 22:1067-1074. [PMID: 21704502 PMCID: PMC3183163 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2011.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2010] [Revised: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Low birth weight affects 1 in every 7 babies born globally and can predict a lifetime of increased risk for adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Maternal low protein diet during pregnancy and lactation is a well-characterized rat model for low birth weight and the subsequent increase in chronic disease risk. However, mice have been relatively understudied in this paradigm and represent a critical resource for investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms that link adverse early life experience and the development of chronic disease. METHODS AND RESULTS The present manuscript describes a mouse model of low birth weight (maternal consumption of low protein diet (8% protein) through pregnancy and lactation) and characterizes metabolic adaptations (food intake, locomotor activity, oxygen consumption, and glucose tolerance) in male and female offspring. At weaning, mice were maintained either on the control diet or a high fat diet. Notable sex differences were observed, with male mice from the low protein pregnancies showing increased food intake, hyperactivity and increased metabolic rate only when weaned to the high fat diet, while female mice consistently showed increased food intake and were hypometabolic, regardless of post-weaning diet. CONCLUSION These data identify offspring sex and post-weaning diet as critical variables in the metabolic adaptations to early life protein deficiency, and suggest that females may be more vulnerable to the adverse long-term health consequences of low birth weight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K W Whitaker
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-5158, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Robinson WR. Gender-specific effects of early nutritional restriction on adult obesity risk: evidence from quasi-experimental studies. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2012; 20:2464-6. [PMID: 22327055 DOI: 10.1038/oby.2012.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In countries undergoing nutrition transition and historically poor minority groups in wealthy countries, obesity tends to be more common in women than men. A potential contributor to this female excess of obesity is a mismatch between perinatal nutritional restriction and a later calorie-rich environment. Several epidemiologic and quasi-experimental studies support a gender-differential effect of early nutritional deprivation on adult obesity. The quasi-experimental studies are of particular interest because results of quasi-experimental studies are typically less vulnerable to confounding bias than observational studies. Four quasi-experimental studies-exploiting 20th century famines that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia-provide evidence that perinatal nutritional restriction followed by relative caloric abundance may increase adult obesity risk to a greater extent in women than men. If the findings are accurate and generalizable to contemporary food environments, they suggest that the female offspring of poor, or otherwise nutritionally restricted, women in rapidly developing and wealthy countries may be at particularly high risk of adult obesity. Research into gender-specific effects of early life nutritional deprivation and its interactions with later environmental exposures may provide insight into global gender differences in obesity prevalence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Whitney R Robinson
- Epidemiology Department, UNC Gillings School of Public Health, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carolina Population Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Da Li Q, Li H, Li FJ, Wang MS, Li ZJ, Han J, Li QH, Ma XJ, Wang DN. Nutrition deficiency increases the risk of stomach cancer mortality. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:315. [PMID: 22838407 PMCID: PMC3443031 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of the study is to determine whether exposure to malnutrition during early life is associated with increased risk of stomach cancer in later life. METHODS The design protocol included analyzing the trend of gastric cancer mortality and nutrition and evaluating the association between nutrient deficiency in early life and the risk of gastric cancer by hierarchical age-period-birth cohort (APC) analysis using general log-linear Poisson models and to compare the difference between birth cohorts who were exposed to the 1959-1961 Chinese famine and those who were not exposed to the famine. Data on stomach cancer mortality from 1970 to 2009 and the dietary patterns from 1955 to 1985 which included the 1959-1961 Chinese famine period in the Zhaoyuan County population were obtained. The nutrition information was collected 15 years prior to the mortality data as based on the latest reference of disease incubation. RESULTS APC analysis revealed that severe nutrition deficiency during early life may increase the risk of stomach cancer. Compared with the 1960-1964 birth cohort, the risk for stomach cancer in all birth cohorts from 1900 to 1959 significantly increased; compared with the 1970-1974 cohort, the risk for stomach cancer in the 1975-1979 cohort significantly increased, whereas the others had a steadily decreased risk; compared with 85-89 age group in the 2005-2009 death survey, the ORs decreased with younger age and reached significant levels for the 50-54 age group after adjusting the confounding factors. The 1930 to 1964 group (exposed to famine) had a higher mortality rate than the 1965 to 1999 group (not exposed to famine). For males, the relative risk (RR) was 2.39 and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.51 to 3.77. For females, RR was 1.64 and 95% CI was 1.02 to 2.62. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggested that prolonged malnutrition during early life may increase the risk of stomach cancer mortality in later life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Da Li
- Department of Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Li
- Tumor Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fu Ji Li
- Department of Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Mei Shu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhuo Jian Li
- Center of Disease Control and Prevention of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Han
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine New York University, New York, USA
| | - Qing Hui Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Basic Medicine of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xiang Ji Ma
- Center of Disease Control and Prevention of Shandong Province, Jinan, China
| | - Da Nan Wang
- Center of Disease Control and Prevention of Zhaoyuan, Zhaoyuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
The purpose of this review was to evaluate factors in early childhood (≤5 years of age) that are the most significant predictors of the development of obesity in adulthood. Factors of interest included exposures/insults in the prenatal period, infancy and early childhood, as well as other socio-demographic variables such as socioeconomic status (SES) or birth place that could impact all three time periods. An extensive electronic and systematic search initially resulted in 8,880 citations, after duplicates were removed. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were set, and following two screening processes, 135 studies were retained for detailed abstraction and analysis. A total of 42 variables were associated with obesity in adulthood; however, of these, only seven variables may be considered as potential early markers of obesity based on the reported associations. Possible early markers of obesity included maternal smoking and maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Probable early markers of obesity included maternal body mass index, childhood growth patterns (early rapid growth and early adiposity rebound), childhood obesity and father's employment (a proxy measure for SES in many studies). Health promotion programmes/agencies should consider these factors as reasonable targets to reduce the risk of adult obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T D Brisbois
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Brisbois TD, Farmer AP, McCargar LJ. Early markers of adult obesity: a review. OBESITY REVIEWS : AN OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF OBESITY 2011. [PMID: 22171945 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2011.00965.x.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review was to evaluate factors in early childhood (≤5 years of age) that are the most significant predictors of the development of obesity in adulthood. Factors of interest included exposures/insults in the prenatal period, infancy and early childhood, as well as other socio-demographic variables such as socioeconomic status (SES) or birth place that could impact all three time periods. An extensive electronic and systematic search initially resulted in 8,880 citations, after duplicates were removed. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were set, and following two screening processes, 135 studies were retained for detailed abstraction and analysis. A total of 42 variables were associated with obesity in adulthood; however, of these, only seven variables may be considered as potential early markers of obesity based on the reported associations. Possible early markers of obesity included maternal smoking and maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Probable early markers of obesity included maternal body mass index, childhood growth patterns (early rapid growth and early adiposity rebound), childhood obesity and father's employment (a proxy measure for SES in many studies). Health promotion programmes/agencies should consider these factors as reasonable targets to reduce the risk of adult obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T D Brisbois
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Zheng X, Wang Y, Ren W, Luo R, Zhang S, Zhang JH, Zeng Q. Risk of metabolic syndrome in adults exposed to the great Chinese famine during the fetal life and early childhood. Eur J Clin Nutr 2011; 66:231-6. [DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
50
|
Abstract
We review human studies on the relation between acute exposures to prenatal famine and adult physical and mental health. These studies are observational and include exposures to a famine environment by natural or man-made causes or, more commonly, from the interplay between natural and human factors. These natural experiments provide an opportunity to examine long-term outcomes after famine exposures by comparing exposed and nonexposed individuals. The studies show consistent associations between prenatal famine and adult body size, diabetes, and schizophrenia. For other measures of adult health, findings are less robust. A relation between prenatal famine and some reported epigenetic changes may provide a potential mechanism to explain specific associations. Much progress can be made if current separate studies are further analyzed with comparable definitions of exposures and outcomes and using common analytic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L H Lumey
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|