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Shige Song - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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identifying the intergenerational effects of the 1959 1961 chinese great leap forward Famine on infant mortality
Economics and Human Biology, 2013Co-Authors: Shige SongAbstract:Abstract Using the 1959–1961 Chinese Great Leap Forward Famine as a natural experiment, this study examines the relationship between mothers’ prenatal exposure to acute malnutrition and their children's infant mortality risk. According to the results, the effect of mothers’ prenatal Famine exposure status on children's infant mortality risk depends on the level of Famine severity. In regions of low Famine severity, mothers’ prenatal Famine exposure significantly reduces children's infant mortality, whereas in regions of high Famine severity, such prenatal exposure increases children's infant mortality although the effect is not statistically significant. Such a curvilinear relationship between mothers’ prenatal malnutrition status and their children's infant mortality risk is more complicated than the linear relationship predicted by the original fetal origins hypothesis but is consistent with the more recent developmental origins of health and disease theory.
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mortality consequences of the 1959 1961 great leap forward Famine in china debilitation selection and mortality crossovers
Social Science & Medicine, 2010Co-Authors: Shige SongAbstract:Abstract Using retrospective mortality records for three cohorts of newborns (1956–1958, 1959–1961, and 1962–1964) drawn from a large Chinese national fertility survey conducted in 1988, this article examines cohort mortality differences up to age 22, with the aim of identifying debilitating and selection effects of the 1959–1961 Great Leap Forward Famine. The results showed that the mortality level of the non-Famine cohort caught up to and exceeded the level of the Famine cohort between ages 11 and 12, suggesting both debilitating and selection effects. Multilevel multiprocess models further established a more direct connection between frailties in infancy and frailties at subsequent ages, revealing the underlying dynamics of mortality convergence between the Famine and the non-Famine cohorts caused by differential excess infant mortality. These results provide important new insights into the human mortality process.
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does Famine have a long term effect on cohort mortality evidence from the 1959 1961 great leap forward Famine in china
Journal of Biosocial Science, 2009Co-Authors: Shige SongAbstract:Using retrospective individual mortality records of three cohorts of newborns (1954-1958, 1959-1962 and 1963-1967) from a large national fertility survey conducted in 1988 in China, this paper examines the effect of being conceived or born during the 1959-1961 Great Leap Forward Famine on postnatal mortality. The results show strong evidence of a short-term (period) effect of the Famine, caused directly by starvation or severe malnutrition during the period of the Famine. After controlling for period mortality fluctuation, however, the Famine-born cohort does not show higher mortality than either the pre-Famine or the post-Famine cohort. Aggregate-level cross-temporal comparisons using published cohort population counts from China's 1982 Census, 1990 Census, 1995 micro-Census, 2000 Census and 2005 micro-Census lead to the same conclusion. The relevance of these new findings for the 'fetal origins' hypothesis and the selection effect hypothesis is discussed.
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Famine death and madness schizophrenia in early adulthood after prenatal exposure to the chinese great leap forward Famine
Social Science & Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Shige Song, Wei WangAbstract:Using data from large scale, nationally representative sample surveys, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to Famine increases schizophrenia risk at adulthood by studying the Great Leap Forward Famine in China (1959-1961). Our results show that, in the urban population, being conceived and born during the Famine increased the risk of developing schizophrenia at early adulthood as compared to both the pre-Famine and post-Famine cohorts. In the rural population, however, the post-Famine cohort had the highest risk of developing schizophrenia, and there was virtually no difference in schizophrenia risk between the pre-Famine and the Famine cohort. This finding contrasts sharply with previous studies on the Dutch Hunger Winter as well as with smaller scale local studies in China based on hospital records. We offer an explanation for the urban-rural difference in the schizophrenia-Famine relationship based on population selection by differential excess mortality and provide supportive evidence through province- and cohort-level ecological analysis.
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does Famine have a long term effect on cohort mortality evidence from the 1959 1961 great leap forward Famine in china
California Center for Population Research, 2007Co-Authors: Shige SongAbstract:Using individual mortality records from three cohorts of newborns (1954-1958, 1959-1962, and 1963-1967) from a large national fertility survey data conducted in 1988 in China, I examine the effect of being conceived or born during the 1959-1961 Great Leap Forward Famine on postnatal mortality. The results show strong evidence of a short-term (period) effect of the Famine, caused directly by starvation or severe malnutrition during the period of the Famine. After controlling for period mortality fluctuation, however, the Famine-born cohort does not show higher postnatal mortality than either the pre-Famine or the post-Famine cohort – as would have been expected from the “fetal origins” hypothesis. Aggregate-level cross-temporal comparisons using published cohort population counts from China’s 1982 Census, 1990 Census, 1995 micro Census, 2000 Census, and 2005 micro Census lead to the same conclusion. The relevance of these new findings for the “fetal origins” hypothesis and the selection effect hypothesis is discussed.
L H Lumey - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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exposure to the chinese Famine of 1959 61 in early life and long term health conditions a systematic review and meta analysis
International Journal of Epidemiology, 2017Co-Authors: L H LumeyAbstract:Background Many middle-aged Chinese people have experienced the Great Leap Forward Famine of 1959–61, which could have profound long-term health consequences for exposed birth cohorts. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarise reported Famine effects on long-term health.
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association between type 2 diabetes and prenatal exposure to the ukraine Famine of 1932 33 a retrospective cohort study
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2015Co-Authors: L H Lumey, Mykola Khalangot, Alexander M VaisermanAbstract:Summary Background The effect of fetal and early childhood living conditions on adult health has long been debated, but empirical assessment in human beings remains a challenge. We used data from during the man-made Ukrainian Famine of 1932–33 to examine the association between restricted nutrition in early gestation and type 2 diabetes in offspring in later life. Methods We included all patients with type 2 diabetes diagnosed at age 40 years or older in the Ukraine national diabetes register 2000–08, and used all individuals born between 1930 and 1938 from the 2001 Ukraine national census as the reference population. This study population includes individuals born before and after the Famine period as controls, and those from regions that experienced extreme, severe, or no Famine. We used prevalence odds ratios (ORs) as the measure of association between type 2 diabetes and early Famine exposure, with stratification by region, date of birth, and sex for comparisons of diabetes prevalence in specific subgroups. Findings Using these two datasets, we compared the odds of type 2 diabetes by date and region of birth in 43 150 patients with diabetes and 1 421 024 individuals born between 1930 and 1938. With adjustment for season of birth, the OR for developing type 2 diabetes was 1·47 (95% CI 1·37–1·58) in individuals born in the first half of 1934 in regions with extreme Famine, 1·26 (1·14–1·39) in individuals born in regions with severe Famine, and there was no increase (OR 1·00, 0·91–1·09) in individuals born in regions with no Famine, compared with births in other time periods. Multivariable analyses confirmed these results. The associations between type 2 diabetes and Famine around the time of birth were similar in men and women. Interpretation These results show a dose–response relation between Famine severity during prenatal development and odds of type 2 diabetes in later life. Our findings suggest that early gestation is a critical time window of development; therefore, further studies of biological mechanisms should include this period. Funding Ukraine State Diabetes Mellitus Program, US National Institutes of Health.
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prenatal Famine birthweight reproductive performance and age at menopause the dutch hunger winter families study
Human Reproduction, 2013Co-Authors: F Yarde, Aryeh D Stein, Frank J M Broekmans, K M Van Der Palde Bruin, Y Schonbeck, E Te R Velde, L H LumeyAbstract:study design, size, duration: This cohort study included men and women born around the time of the Dutch Famine of 1944– 1945. The study participants (n ¼ 1070) underwent standardized interviews on reproductive parameters at a mean age of 59 years. participants/materials, setting, methods: The participants were grouped as men and women with prenatal Famine exposure (n ¼ 407), their same-sex siblings (family controls, n ¼ 319) or other men and women born before or after the Famine period (time controls, n ¼ 344). Associations of Famine exposure with reproductive performance and menopause were analysed using logistic regression and survival analysis with competing risk, after controlling for family clustering. mainresultsandtheroleofchance: Gestational Famine exposure was not associated with nulliparity, age at birth of first child, difficulties conceiving or pregnancy outcome (all P . 0.05) in men or women. At any given age, women were more likely to experience menopause after gestational exposure to Famine (hazard ratio 1.24; 95% CI 1.03, 1.51). The association was not attenuated with an additional control for a woman’s birthweight. In this study, there was no association between birthweight and age at menopause after adjustment for gestational Famine exposure. limitations, reason for caution: Age at menopause was self-reported and assessed retrospectively. The study power to examine associations with specific gestational periods of Famine exposure and reproductive function was limited. wider implications of the findings: Our findings support previous results that prenatal Famine exposure is not related to reproductive performance in adult life. However, natural menopause occurs earlier after prenatal Famine exposure, suggesting that early life events can affect organ function even at the ovarian level.
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the dutch Famine of 1944 45 as a human laboratory changes in the early life environment and adult health
Early life nutrition and adult health and development, 2013Co-Authors: L H Lumey, F W A Van PoppelAbstract:Studies of men and women exposed to the Dutch Famine of 1944-1945 (also known as the Dutch ‘Hunger winter’) during different periods of life are important because they provide an opportunity to look at long-term effects of disturbances in the early life environment. For ethical and practical reasons, such studies could not otherwise be carried out in humans. At the time of the Dutch Famine, civilian starvation was caused by conditions of war and the impact can be documented of extreme changes in nutrition not normally seen in human populations. We present an overview of studies conducted on the Dutch Famine using military examination records, psychiatric hospital records, population surveys, and Famine birth cohorts followed to the present day, for medical examinations and DNA analysis. Of all reported outcomes, associations between prenatal Famine and adult body size, diabetes, and schizophrenia show the most consistent pattern. For other outcomes, the pattern is more variable and inconsistent. There are also associations between prenatal Famine and long-lasting epigenetic changes in DNA regulation. These need replication but could provide a potential mechanism to explain other observations.
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prenatal Famine and adult health
Annual Review of Public Health, 2011Co-Authors: L H Lumey, Aryeh D Stein, Ezra SusserAbstract: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.
Zhiyong Zou - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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early life exposure to severe Famine is associated with higher methylation level in the igf2 gene and higher total cholesterol in late adulthood the genomic research of the chinese Famine grecf study
Clinical Epigenetics, 2019Co-Authors: Luqi Shen, Zhenghe Wang, Ruiyuan Zhang, Ye Shen, Toni P Miles, Jingkai Wei, Zhiyong ZouAbstract:To evaluate the association of early-life exposure to the Chinese Great Famine (1959–1961) with DNA methylation in IGF2 and its subsequent influence on blood lipid levels in late adulthood among participants of the Genomic Research of the Chinese Famine (GRECF) study. The GRECF study recruited 790 participants born between 1956 and 1964 from 2 neighbor provinces, Anhui and Jiangxi, in China through a multistage, clustered, random sampling. The current study included a random sample of 188 GRECF participants. IGF2 differential methylation region (DMR) is an intragenic DMR located upstream of the imprinted promoters of IGF2 exon 3. DNA methylation were quantified at 8 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) sites at the IGF2 DMR (chr11p15.5) using the Sequenom EpiTYPER method and the MassARRAY system. Multivariate linear regressions were used to evaluate pairwise associations among Famine severity, DNA methylation in the IGF2 gene, and lipid levels. We controlled for age and sex in the base model and additionally controlled for education, smoking, and drinking status in the fully adjusted model. Mediation analysis was applied to assess the mediation effect of DNA methylation at the IGF2 gene on the association between early-life exposure to severe Famine and adult lipid levels. Exposure to severe Famine was associated with elevated methylation at CpG1 (chr11: 2126041, build 36) of the IGF2 DMR (β = 0.07; P = 0.0008) and total cholesterol (β = 0.72; P = 1.09 × 10−7). After adjustment for age and sex, each unit increase in methylation of the CpG1 site was associated with 1.09-unit increase in total cholesterol (P = 0.03). After further adjustment for all covariates, these associations were still significant (PFamine-CpG1 = 0.002, PFamine-total cholesterol = 1.28 × 10−6, and PCpG1-total cholesterol = 0.05). Increased methylation level in the IGF2 gene was associated with early-life exposure to severe Famine, and this change was also positively associated with total cholesterol in late adulthood.
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early life exposure to severe Famine is associated with higher methylation level in the igf2 gene and higher total cholesterol in late adulthood the genomic research of the chinese Famine grecf study
Social Science Research Network, 2019Co-Authors: Luqi Shen, Zhenghe Wang, Ruiyuan Zhang, Ye Shen, Toni P Miles, Jingkai Wei, Zhiyong ZouAbstract:Objective: To evaluate the association of early-life exposure to the Chinese Great Famine (1959-1961) with DNA methylation in IGF2 and its subsequent influence on blood lipid levels in late adulthood among participants of the Genomic Research of the Chinese Famine (GRECF) study. Methods: Among a random sample of 188 GRECF participants, DNA methylation within the IGF2 gene were quantified at 8 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) sites. Multivariate linear regressions were used to evaluate pairwise associations among Famine severity, DNA methylation in the IGF2 gene, and lipids levels. Mediation analysis was applied to assess the mediation effect of DNA methylation at the IGF2 gene on the association between early-life exposure to severe Famine and adult lipids levels. Results: Exposure to severe Famine was associated with elevated methylation at CpG1 of the IGF2 gene (β=0.07; P=0.0008) and total cholesterol (TC) (β=0.72; P=1.09x10-7). After adjustment for age and sex, each unit increase in methylation of the CpG1 site was associated with 1.09-unit increase in TC (P=0.03). After additional adjustment for education, smoking, and drinking, these associations were still significant (PFamine-CpG1=0.002, PFamine-TC=1.28x10-6, and PCpG1-TC= 0.05). Methylation of the CpG1 site mediated 5% (P=0.30) of the association between exposure to severe Famine and adult TC. Interpretation: Increased methylation level in the IGF2 gene was associated with early-life exposure to severe Famine and this change was also positively associated with TC in late adulthood. Funding: The GRECF study was funded by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC81402692). Declaration of Interest: None Ethical Approval: The GRECF study was approved by the Institute Review Board at the Peking University Health Science Center. All participants have signed consent forms.
Luqi Shen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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early life exposure to severe Famine is associated with higher methylation level in the igf2 gene and higher total cholesterol in late adulthood the genomic research of the chinese Famine grecf study
Clinical Epigenetics, 2019Co-Authors: Luqi Shen, Zhenghe Wang, Ruiyuan Zhang, Ye Shen, Toni P Miles, Jingkai Wei, Zhiyong ZouAbstract:To evaluate the association of early-life exposure to the Chinese Great Famine (1959–1961) with DNA methylation in IGF2 and its subsequent influence on blood lipid levels in late adulthood among participants of the Genomic Research of the Chinese Famine (GRECF) study. The GRECF study recruited 790 participants born between 1956 and 1964 from 2 neighbor provinces, Anhui and Jiangxi, in China through a multistage, clustered, random sampling. The current study included a random sample of 188 GRECF participants. IGF2 differential methylation region (DMR) is an intragenic DMR located upstream of the imprinted promoters of IGF2 exon 3. DNA methylation were quantified at 8 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) sites at the IGF2 DMR (chr11p15.5) using the Sequenom EpiTYPER method and the MassARRAY system. Multivariate linear regressions were used to evaluate pairwise associations among Famine severity, DNA methylation in the IGF2 gene, and lipid levels. We controlled for age and sex in the base model and additionally controlled for education, smoking, and drinking status in the fully adjusted model. Mediation analysis was applied to assess the mediation effect of DNA methylation at the IGF2 gene on the association between early-life exposure to severe Famine and adult lipid levels. Exposure to severe Famine was associated with elevated methylation at CpG1 (chr11: 2126041, build 36) of the IGF2 DMR (β = 0.07; P = 0.0008) and total cholesterol (β = 0.72; P = 1.09 × 10−7). After adjustment for age and sex, each unit increase in methylation of the CpG1 site was associated with 1.09-unit increase in total cholesterol (P = 0.03). After further adjustment for all covariates, these associations were still significant (PFamine-CpG1 = 0.002, PFamine-total cholesterol = 1.28 × 10−6, and PCpG1-total cholesterol = 0.05). Increased methylation level in the IGF2 gene was associated with early-life exposure to severe Famine, and this change was also positively associated with total cholesterol in late adulthood.
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early life exposure to severe Famine is associated with higher methylation level in the igf2 gene and higher total cholesterol in late adulthood the genomic research of the chinese Famine grecf study
Social Science Research Network, 2019Co-Authors: Luqi Shen, Zhenghe Wang, Ruiyuan Zhang, Ye Shen, Toni P Miles, Jingkai Wei, Zhiyong ZouAbstract:Objective: To evaluate the association of early-life exposure to the Chinese Great Famine (1959-1961) with DNA methylation in IGF2 and its subsequent influence on blood lipid levels in late adulthood among participants of the Genomic Research of the Chinese Famine (GRECF) study. Methods: Among a random sample of 188 GRECF participants, DNA methylation within the IGF2 gene were quantified at 8 cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) sites. Multivariate linear regressions were used to evaluate pairwise associations among Famine severity, DNA methylation in the IGF2 gene, and lipids levels. Mediation analysis was applied to assess the mediation effect of DNA methylation at the IGF2 gene on the association between early-life exposure to severe Famine and adult lipids levels. Results: Exposure to severe Famine was associated with elevated methylation at CpG1 of the IGF2 gene (β=0.07; P=0.0008) and total cholesterol (TC) (β=0.72; P=1.09x10-7). After adjustment for age and sex, each unit increase in methylation of the CpG1 site was associated with 1.09-unit increase in TC (P=0.03). After additional adjustment for education, smoking, and drinking, these associations were still significant (PFamine-CpG1=0.002, PFamine-TC=1.28x10-6, and PCpG1-TC= 0.05). Methylation of the CpG1 site mediated 5% (P=0.30) of the association between exposure to severe Famine and adult TC. Interpretation: Increased methylation level in the IGF2 gene was associated with early-life exposure to severe Famine and this change was also positively associated with TC in late adulthood. Funding: The GRECF study was funded by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC81402692). Declaration of Interest: None Ethical Approval: The GRECF study was approved by the Institute Review Board at the Peking University Health Science Center. All participants have signed consent forms.
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abstract p294 the chinese great Famine and major depression disorder the charls study
Circulation, 2017Co-Authors: Luqi Shen, Cheng Huang, Changwei LiAbstract:Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of major depression and experience severe Famine during the Chinese Great Famine in middle-aged and older Chinese population, and to evaluate the impact of fa...
Rebecca C Painter - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cohort profile: the Dutch Famine birth cohort (DFBC)— a prospective birth cohort study in the Netherlands
'BMJ', 2021Co-Authors: Rebecca C Painter, Susanne R De Rooij, Tessa J Roseboom, Laura S Bleker, Anita C J RavelliAbstract:Purpose The Dutch Famine birth cohort study was set up to investigate the effects of acute maternal undernutrition of the 1944–1945 Dutch Famine during the specific stages of gestation on later health, with a particular focus on chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, ageing and mental health.Participants The Dutch Famine birth cohort consists of 2414 singletons born alive and at term in the Wilhelmina Gasthuis in Amsterdam around the time of the Dutch Famine (1943–1947) whose birth records have been kept. The cohort has been traced and studied since 1994, when the first data collection started. The cohort has been interviewed and physically examined in several waves of data collection since that time, allowing repeated measures of a wide range of phenotypic information as well as the collection of biological samples (blood, urine, buccal swabs), functional testing (of heart, lungs, kidney, HPA axis) and imaging of the brain (MRI) and vasculature (ultrasound). Additionally, genetic and epigenetic information was collected. Through linkage with registries, mortality and morbidity information of the entire cohort has been obtained.Findings to date Prenatal Famine exposure had lasting consequences for health in later life. The effects of Famine depended on its timing during the gestation and the organs and tissues developing at that time, with most effects after exposure to Famine in early gestation. The effects of Famine were widespread and affected the structure and function of many organs and tissues, resulted in altered behaviour and increased risks of chronic degenerative diseases and increased mortality. The effects of Famine were independent of size at birth, which suggests that programming may occur without altering size at birth.Future plans As the cohort ages, we will be assessing the effects of prenatal undernutrition on (brain) ageing, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as overall morbidity and mortality.Registration The Dutch Famine birth cohort is not linked to a clinical trial
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transgenerational effects of prenatal exposure to the dutch Famine on neonatal adiposity and health in later life
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2008Co-Authors: Rebecca C Painter, Clive Osmond, Peter D Gluckman, Mark A Hanson, David I W Phillips, Tessa J RoseboomAbstract:Objective Maternal undernutrition during gestation is associated with increased metabolic and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. We investigated whether these effects may persist in subsequent generations. Design Historical cohort study. Setting Interview during a clinic or home visit or by telephone. Population Men and women born in the Wilhelmina Gasthuis in Amsterdam between November 1943 and February 1947. Methods We interviewed cohort members (F1) born around the time of the 1944-45 Dutch Famine, who were exposed or unexposed to Famine in utero, about their offspring (F2). Main outcome measures Birthweight, birth length, ponderal index and health in later life (as reported by F1) of the offspring (F2) of 855 participating cohort members, according to F1 Famine exposure in utero. Results F1 Famine exposure in utero did not affect F2 (n = 1496) birthweight, but, among the offspring of Famine-exposed F1 women, F2 birth length was decreased (-0.6 cm, P adjusted for F2 gender and birth order = 0.01) and F2 ponderal index was increased (+1.2 kg/m(3), P adjusted for F2 gender and birth order = 0.001). The association remained unaltered after adjusting for possible confounders. The offspring of F1 women who were exposed to Famine in utero also had poor health 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-2.7) times more frequently in later life (due to miscellaneous causes) than that of F1 unexposed women. Conclusions We did not find transgenerational effects of prenatal exposure to Famine on birthweight nor on cardiovascular and metabolic disease rates. F1 Famine exposure in utero was, however, associated with increased F2 neonatal adiposity and poor health in later life. Our findings may imply that the increase in chronic disease after Famine exposure in utero is not limited to the F1 generation but persists in the F2 generation
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blood pressure response to psychological stressors in adults after prenatal exposure to the dutch Famine
Journal of Hypertension, 2006Co-Authors: Rebecca C Painter, Susanne R De Rooij, Patrick M M Bossuyt, Clive Osmond, David J P Barker, O P Bleker, David I W Phillips, Tessa J RoseboomAbstract:OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence that restricted prenatal growth is associated with exaggerated blood pressure responses to stress. We investigated the effect of maternal undernutrition on the adult offspring's stress response. DESIGN: A historical cohort study. METHODS: We performed continuous blood pressure and heart rate measurements during a battery of three 5-min physiological stress tests (Stroop test, mirror-drawing test and a public speech task) in 721 men and women, aged 58 years, born as term singletons in Amsterdam at about the time of the Dutch 1944-1945 Famine. RESULTS: During the stress tests, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) rose from baseline by 20 mmHg during the Stroop test, by 30 mmHg during the mirror-drawing test and by 47 mmHg during the public speech task. The SBP and diastolic blood pressure increase during stress was highest among individuals exposed to Famine in early gestation compared with unexposed subjects (4 mmHg extra systolic increase, P = 0.04; 1 mmHg diastolic increase, P = 0.1, both adjusted for sex). Exposure during mid and late gestation was not associated with a stress-related increment of blood pressure (P adjusted for sex > 0.6). Correcting for confounders in a multivariable model did not attenuate the association between Famine exposure in early gestation and the SBP increment. The heart rate increment was not related to Famine exposure during any part of gestation. CONCLUSION: We found a greater blood pressure increase during stress among individuals exposed to Famine in early gestation. Increased stress responsiveness may underlie the known association between coronary heart disease and exposure to Famine in early gestation
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the dutch Famine and its long term consequences for adult health
Early Human Development, 2006Co-Authors: Tessa J Roseboom, Susanne R De Rooij, Rebecca C PainterAbstract:Abstract Small size at birth is linked with an increased risk of chronic diseases in later life. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation may contribute to restricted fetal growth, leading to increased disease susceptibility in later life. Animal studies have shown that undernutrition during gestation is associated with reduced life span and increased disease susceptibility. The Dutch Famine is a unique counterpart for animal models that study the effects of restricted maternal nutrition during different stages of gestation. This paper describes the findings from a cohort study of 2414 people born around the time of the Dutch Famine. Exposure to Famine during any stage of gestation was associated with glucose intolerance. We found more coronary heart disease, a more atherogenic lipid profile, disturbed blood coagulation, increased stress responsiveness and more obesity among those exposed to Famine in early gestation. Women exposed to Famine in early gestation also had an increased risk of breast cancer. People exposed to Famine in mid gestation had more microalbuminuria and obstructive airways disease. These findings show that maternal undernutrition during gestation has important effects on health in later life, but that the effects on health depend on its timing during gestation. Especially early gestation seems to be a vulnerable period. Adequate dietary advice to women before and during pregnancy seems a promising strategy in preventing chronic diseases in future generations.
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prenatal exposure to the dutch Famine and disease in later life an overview
Reproductive Toxicology, 2005Co-Authors: Rebecca C Painter, Tessa J Roseboom, O P BlekerAbstract:Low birth weight is associated with cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation contributes to low birth weight. In this paper, we review the findings from a cohort of 2414 people, aged 50 years, born as term singletons around the time of the 1944-1945 Dutch Famine, of which 912 people participated in an interview and 741 subjects were also available for hospital examination. We found more coronary heart disease, raised lipids, altered clotting and more obesity after exposure to Famine in early gestation compared to those not exposed to the Famine. Exposure in mid gestation was associated with obstructive airways disease and microalbuminuria. We found decreased glucose tolerance in people exposed to Famine in late gestation. These findings show that maternal undernutrition during gestation has important effects on health in later life, but that the timing of the nutritional insult determines which organ system is affected. Future research should shed more light upon the underlying pathophysiology of the far-reaching effects of prenatal exposure to Famine.
