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Prenatal Programming and Epigenetics of Obesity Metabolic Phenotype: Pre- and Postnatal Metabolic Phenotypes and Molecular Mechanisms

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Abstract

The incidence of obesity and comorbidities has increased to epidemic levels in recent years, with important changes in the sociodemographic profile of the disease. At present, a high prevalence of the disease is not only found in developed countries but also in developing areas like India, Brazil, China, and Middle East countries. Concomitantly, the highest prevalence has moved from mature individuals to infant, young, and middle-aged populations. There is currently strong evidence supporting that these changes are related to modifications in nutritional patterns and lifestyle of women in childbearing age that affects prenatal and early postnatal environment, and therefore, modifies the developmental programming of their offspring. The present chapter outlines, based on the results of translational animal research and epidemiological human studies, the processes of developmental programming involved in the onset of obesity at infancy and adulthood.

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Abbreviations

AGRP:

Agouti related protein

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOHaD:

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

IUGR:

Intrauterine Growth Restriction or Retardation

LEP:

Leptin

LEPR:

Leptin receptor

LGA:

Large-for-gestational-age

MC3R:

Melanocortin 3 receptor

MC4R:

Melanocortin 4 receptor

NPY:

Neuropeptide Y

POMC:

Propiomelanocortin

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

SGA:

Small-for-gestational-age

α-MSH:

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comparative Physiology Group. SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes & Susana Astiz

Authors
  1. Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes
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  2. Susana Astiz
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Correspondence to Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Research Division, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

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Gonzalez-Bulnes, A., Astiz, S. (2019). Prenatal Programming and Epigenetics of Obesity Metabolic Phenotype: Pre- and Postnatal Metabolic Phenotypes and Molecular Mechanisms. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Handbook of Nutrition, Diet, and Epigenetics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55530-0_109

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55530-0_109

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55530-0

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