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The Developmental Mechanisms of Obesity by Maternal Obesity

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Pathophysiology of Obesity-Induced Health Complications

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease ((ABHD,volume 19))

Abstract

Obesity is a major global concern due to its alarming prevalence and associated risks for multiple diseases. The rate of obesity has nearly tripled in the last four decades and amounting evidence is implying a critical role of developmental factors before, during and after pregnancy in promoting this global pandemic. Maternal obesity in particular has been associated with large-for-gestational age babies and increased risk of obesity in adulthood, thus generating a vicious cycle. Studies in animal models demonstrated that such effects of maternal obesity can be detected in the offspring across up to three generations, suggesting a profound transgenerational impact. This chapter will discuss critical windows for developmental programming of obesity and possible mechanisms involved such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, placental insults, intrauterine overnutrition, appetite dysregulation and microbiome. A special focus will be put on epigenetic regulation and the role of sirtuins, which have been suggested to play a central role in the metabolic programming process. Finally, the prospective of intervention therapies for maternal obesity-induced developmental programming will be briefly discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Renal Medicine, Kolling Institute Level 9, Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney, Pacific Hwy, St. Leonard, NSW, 2065, Australia

    Long T. Nguyen, Carol A. Pollock & Sonia Saad

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  1. Long T. Nguyen
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  2. Carol A. Pollock
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  3. Sonia Saad
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Correspondence to Long T. Nguyen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Asper Clinical Research Institute and Office of Clinical Research, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Paramjit S. Tappia

  2. Asper Clinical Research Institute and Office of Clinical Research, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Bram Ramjiawan

  3. Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Naranjan S. Dhalla

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Nguyen, L.T., Pollock, C.A., Saad, S. (2020). The Developmental Mechanisms of Obesity by Maternal Obesity. In: Tappia, P., Ramjiawan, B., Dhalla, N. (eds) Pathophysiology of Obesity-Induced Health Complications. Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35358-2_14

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