Malnutrition in early life and metabolic diseases in adulthood / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, is increasing all over the world. Metabolic diseases have become a major public health problem in China, and primary prevention is particularly important and urgent. According to the theory of DOHaD (Developmental Origin of Health and Diseases), negative environmental factors in early life, such as malnutrition, may increase the risk of some non-communicable diseases, especially metabolic diseases in adulthood. Due to regional economic development disparities in China, life cycle nutrition imbalance (such as malnutrition in early life and overnutrition in adults) is still a common problem. Recently, many scholars have made comprehensive and in-depth studies on the relationship between malnutrition in early life and the development of metabolic diseases in adulthood. This paper summarizes the recent results in this field and puts forward a metabolic model of undernutrition in early life and overnutrition in adulthood (double burden theory). These studies will provide related evidence for the prevention of metabolic diseases in rapidly developing countries such as China and India.