Reconsidering the developmental origins of adult disease paradigm: The 'metabolic coordination of childbirth' hypothesis.

ABSTRACT: In uncomplicated pregnancies, birthweight is inversely associated with adult non-communicable disease (NCD) risk. One proposed mechanism is maternal malnutrition during pregnancy. Another explanation is that shared genes link birthweight with NCDs. Both hypotheses are supported, but evolutionary perspectives address only the environmental pathway. We propose that genetic and environmental associations of birthweight with NCD risk reflect coordinated regulatory systems between mother and foetus, that evolved to reduce risks of obstructed labour. First, the foetus must tailor its growth to maternal metabolic signals, as it cannot predict the size of the birth canal from its own genome. Second, we predict that maternal alleles that promote placental nutrient supply have been selected to const

SUBMITTER: Wells JCK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10878253 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature