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Nutritional programming: Theoretical concepts and experimental evidence

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Abstract

It is known that malnutrition during prenatal development increases the risk of chronic conditions in adulthood. This phenomenon is referred to as the nutritional programming of age-related disorders. It is assumed that the qualitative or quantitative deficiency of certain nutrients during early development elicits an adaptive response, which improves survival in prenatal and early postnatal life. However, a side effect of the adaptive changes may be the development of various disorders at later stages of life. Recent studies indicate that one of the major mechanisms involved in these changes is the epigenetic regulation of gene activity. In this review, we consider experimental data proving that processes arising from a quantitatively or qualitatively restricted diet at early developmental stages play an important role in further life and notably influence the risk of various age-related disorders and life span.

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  1. Chebotarev State Institute of Gerontology, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, ul. Vyshgorodskaya 67, Kiev, 04114, Ukraine

    O. G. Zabuga, N. G. Akhaladze & A. M. Vaiserman

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  1. O. G. Zabuga
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Original Russian Text © O.G. Zabuga, N.G. Akhaladze, A.M. Vaiserman, 2013, published in Uspekhi Gerontologii, 2013, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 212–223.

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Zabuga, O.G., Akhaladze, N.G. & Vaiserman, A.M. Nutritional programming: Theoretical concepts and experimental evidence. Adv Gerontol 4, 3–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079057014010159

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