How might a pregnant woman's diet and health routine affect the health of her unborn fetus?


A theory called fetal programming, or developmental origins of health and disease, states that maternal malnutrition or other harmful conditions at a critical period of fetal development may have lifelong effects on an individual's pattern of genetic expression and therefore on the tendency to develop obesity and certain diseases. Poor maternal diet or health during pregnancy may alter the infant's bodily functions that influence disease development, such as blood pressure, cholesterol metabolism, glucose metabolism, and immune functions. For example, malnutrition during fetal development may encourage metabolic programming that promotes nutrient storage and thus provides a survival advantage in an environment of poor postnatal nutrition. In a postnatal environment of adequate nutrition or over-nutrition, however, such adaptations can lead to the development of glucose intolerance, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

Nutritional Science

You might also like to view...

Which of the following would you recommend eating small, frequent meals containing some protein?

a. reactive hypoglycemia b. gout c. PKU d. Cachexia

Nutritional Science

Which of the following is correct about athletes and protein needs?

A. They must consume a minimum of two protein shakes a day to meet needs. B. They must have meat with every meal to meet needs. C. Protein needs are not a concern because their higher intake of food provides higher amounts of calories and protein. D. Most athletes have problems meeting their protein needs.

Nutritional Science

Triathletes and marathoners need approximately ________ grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of weight per day to prevent chronic fatigue.

A. 20 to 22 B. 30 to 32 C. 3 to 5 D. 10 to 12

Nutritional Science

Cryptosporidium in water can be removed by special filtering systems

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Nutritional Science