Adipose tissue and fetal programming

Symonds, Michael; Pope, Mark; Sharkey, Don; Budge, Helen

doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2505-5

Cited by 124 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…In terms of examining the long-term outcomes, adipose tissue is one of the fastest growing organs in early life [43] and simply measuring body weight or total fat mass at a fixed time point in infants and/or children provides very limited insights into later body composition or whether that individual is at greater risk of later obesity. Birth weight and body composition, especially fat mass, are gender dependent and these differences persist through infancy, at least in breast-fed infants [44].…”

Section: Adipose Tissue Growth Gender and Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Life Nutritional Programming of Obesity: Mother-Child Cohort Studies

et al. 2013

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Background: The obesity epidemic has resulted in more overweight/obese women before and during pregnancy. Their offspring tend to have higher birth weights and more body fat, and carry an increased risk of obesity later in life. These effects may partly be related to the heightened risk of gestational diabetes, occurring in at least 16% of all pregnancies irrespective of current body weight. Methods: An ILSI Europe workshop reviewed the key contributors leading to adverse outcomes in pregnancy and childhood, including gestational weight gain and nutrition. New research opportunities from prospective mother-child cohort studies were explored. Results: Simple measures of gestational weight gain provide insufficient detail of the underlying physiological and metabolic adaptations occurring in pregnancy, and should be complemented by measures of body composition, metabolic and endocrine responses. Recordings of maternal dietary intake and nutrient status are often limited and potential correlations with gestational weight gain have been poorly studied. Many pregnancies in overweight/obese women are uncomplicated and result in offspring of normal weight, leaving the main determinants of later adverse outcomes to be clarified. Conclusions: The workshop provided insights of primary measurements for the characterization of sustainable nutritional intervention strategies in the mother, infant and child for preventing obesity in later life.

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Section: Adipose Tissue Growth Gender and Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Life Nutritional Programming of Obesity: Mother-Child Cohort Studies

et al. 2013

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“…One mechanism may be through effects on the hyperplasia of white, beige or brown adipose tissue [44]. Adipocyte number appears to be a major determinant of adult adiposity and suggests a tight regulation of adipocyte cell number during adult life [45].…”

Section: Postnatal Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Placental Exposome: Placental Determinants of Fetal Adiposity and Postnatal Body Composition

et al. 2013

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Offspring of obese and diabetic mothers are at increased risk of being born with excess adiposity as a consequence of their intrauterine environment. Excessive fetal fat accretion reflects additional placental nutrient transfer, suggesting an effect of the maternal environment on placental function. High plasma levels of particular nutrients in obese and diabetic mothers are likely to be the important drivers of nutrient transfer to the fetus, resulting in excess fat accretion. However, not all offspring of obese and diabetic mothers are born large for gestational age and the explanation may involve the regulation of placental nutrient transfer required for fetal growth. The placenta integrates maternal and fetal signals across gestation in order to determine nutrient transfer rate. Understanding the nature of these signals and placental responses to them is key to understanding the pathology of both fetal growth restriction and macrosomia. The overall effects of the maternal environment on the placenta are the product of its exposures throughout gestation, the ‘placental exposome'. Understanding these environmental influences is important as exposures early in gestation, for instance causing changes in the function of genes involved in nutrient transfer, may determine how the placenta will respond to exposures later in gestation, such as to raised maternal plasma glucose or lipid concentrations. Longitudinal studies are required which allow investigation of the influences on the placenta across gestation. These studies need to make full use of developing technologies characterising placental function, fetal growth and body composition. Understanding these processes will assist in the development of preventive strategies and treatments to optimise prenatal growth in those pregnancies at risk of either excess or insufficient nutrient supply and could also reduce the risk of chronic disease in later life.

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“…This makes it diffi cult to distinguish sWAT from dWAT. Studies of mice suggest that this distinction may be important: dWAT and sWAT are developmentally, morphologically, biochemically, and functionally distinct ( 1,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Unfortunately, in previous literature, these depots have typically been referred to using the general "subcutaneous" descriptor, and without a specifi c visual indication, it is diffi cult to deduce the subject of these reports.…”

Section: Thermal Insulationmentioning

confidence: 99%