Early growth and adult health - Programming of postprandial responses, food intake and salt sensitivity
Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Epidemiological studies have shown that low birth weight and slow growth during infancy predict an increased risk of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in adult life. Unhealthy dietary habits are also closely linked with these diseases. However, few results are available on whether dietary habits play a role in the association between birth size and disease risk in later life. The aim of this thesis was to determine whether body size at birth is associated with food and nutrient intake later in life and whether birth weight modifies the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure. In addition, the impact of early growth on postprandial metabolism was examined. These studies included 2003 men and women born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944 with detailed information of their birth weight and childhood growth. They participated in a clinical examination between 2001 and 2004. In the clinic, their weight, height and blood pressure were measured and they filled a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Of those who attended the clinical study, 12 obese individuals with a slow increase in body mass index (BMI) during the first year of life and 12 BMI- and age-matched controls were recruited to participate in the postprandial studies. Each participant consumed six different test meals in random order. Body size at birth was positively associated with consumption of fruits and berries and intake of carbohydrates, sugars and fibre, and inversely associated with intake of fat. Salt intake was related to systolic blood pressure among low birth weight participants (birth weight ≤ 3050 g) but not among participants whose birth weight was > 3050 g. Salt intake was not significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure, either in the low birth weight or high birth weight groups. Early growth affected the postprandial responses, and insulin and triglyceride responses were significantly higher in the group that grew slowly during early life than in the controls. Individuals with slow early growth also showed higher appetite regulatory hormone peptide YY responses than did the controls. This study showed that individuals born with small body size may be programmed towards unhealthy dietary habits. In addition, they are sensitive to the blood pressure-raising effect of salt and therefore, may especially benefit from a reduction in salt intake. Slow growth during early life adversely affects postprandial insulin and triglyceride responses. Unhealthy dietary habits and elevated postprandial responses may be one underlying mechanism explaining the increased risk of metabolic diseases associated with nonoptimal early growth. Early growth may also alter appetite regulatory hormone secretion, which could be one explanation why individuals born small or who grow slowly during infancy are unlikely to become obese in later life.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Mia-Maria Perälä
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2146387315