Transgenerational and intergenerational effects of early childhood famine exposure in the cohort of offspring of Leningrad Siege survivors.

Famine exposure during early life development can affect disease risk in late-life period, yet, transmission of phenotypic features from famine-exposed individuals to the next generations has not been well characterized. The purpose of our case-control study was to investigate the association of parental starvation in the perinatal period and the period of early childhood with the phenotypic features observed in two generations of descendants of Leningrad siege survivors. We examined 54 children and 30 grandchildren of 58 besieged Leningrad residents who suffered from starvation in early childhood and prenatal age during the Second World War. Controls from the population-based national epidemiological ESSE-RF study (n = 175) were matched on sex, age and body mass index (BMI). Phenotypes of controls and descendants (both generations, children and grandchildren separately) were compared, taking into account multiple testing. Comparison of two generations descendants with corresponding control groups revealed significantly higher creatinine and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), both in meta-analysis and in independent analyses. The mean values of GFR for all groups were within the normal range (GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was recorded in 2 controls and no one in DLSS). Additionally, independent of the creatinine level, differences in the eating pattern were detected: insufficient fish and excessive red meat consumption were significantly more frequent in the children of the Leningrad siege survivors compared with controls. Blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose did not differ between the groups. Parental famine exposure in early childhood may contribute to a decrease in kidney filtration capacity and altered eating pattern in the offspring of famine-exposed individuals.

Subclinical target organ damage in subjects with different components of metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To assess the association of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components with target organ damage in a follow-up study of relatively healthy bank employers. METHODS: Out of 1600 random samples of office workers in Saint Petersburg (Russia), a group of 383 participants with at least one component of MS and without cardiovascular complications was selected (mean age 46.6 ± 9.0 years, 214 females (64.6%)). Follow-up visit was performed in 331 subjects. Target organ damage (TOD) was assessed by echocardiography, carotid ultrasound, applanational tonometry, brachial-ankle index, and urine albumin excretion measurements. Anthropometry, vital signs, and biochemistry were performed according to standard protocols. RESULTS: Presence of MS was not associated with higher probability of TOD. Multiple linear regression revealed significant association of all markers of TOD with older age. Hypertension was a significant predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), increased arterial stiffness, and early signs of carotid atherosclerosis in logistic regression adjusted for age and gender. During follow-up, proportion of patients with LVH significantly decreased (from 46.7% to 32.9%, р = 0.003) and prevalence of patients with IMT > 0.09 сm increased (from 24.5% to 44.1%, p < 0.001) accompanying by significant declining of office blood pressure (BP) and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: MS per se is not related to increased probability to TOD. Hypertension, female gender, and older age are main determinants of subclinical changes. After 2-years follow-up, significant LVH and renal damage regression was observed probably owing to BP reduction. Alternatively, early signs of carotid atherosclerosis increase with aging despite decreasing of the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia.

Seventy years after the siege of Leningrad: does early life famine still affect cardiovascular risk and aging?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cardiovascular health, markers of cardiovascular aging and telomere length in survivors of the siege of Leningrad, who were either born during the siege or lived in the besieged city in their early childhood. METHODS: Survivors of the Leningrad siege (n = 305, 64-81 years) and a control group of age and sex-matched individuals (n = 51, 67-82 years) were examined in terms of a observational retrospective cohort study. All participants were interviewed regarding risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, and therapy. Blood pressure measurement, anthropometry, echocardiography, and electrocardiography were performed according to standard guidelines. Fasting lipids and glucose were measured. Relative telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR, and the ratio of telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number (T/S) was calculated for each DNA sample. RESULTS: Survivors had lower anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and BMI) and higher high-density lipoprotein level. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and target organ damage between groups. However, survivors had shorter telomere length: T/S ratio 0.44 (0.25; 0.64) vs. controls 0.91 (0.47; 1.13) (P < 0.0001), both in men and women, with clear association with the period of famine in early life. Exposure to famine in childhood and intrauterine period of life was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension and shorter telomere length. CONCLUSION: Early-life famine, especially started in the intrauterine period and late childhood, may contribute to accelerated aging with telomere shortening in both sexes, but has no direct effect on the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors after seven decades since exposure.