Effects of Maternal Internal Environment on Early Life Growth and Development

Abstract

The first 1000 days of life, defined as the period between early embryogenesis and 2 years old, is the critical window for the growth and development of an infant. According to the well-known theory of DOHaD (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease), adverse factors such as malnutrition and poor environment in early life (including early embryo, fetus, and infancy phases) will increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases in adulthood. The concept of “life course health management” is no longer limited to disease prevention and treatment in adulthood but also focuses on the gestation period, including gametogenesis, early embryonic development, organogenesis, and fetal growth. Fetus is conceived in utero throughout the pregnancy. There will be physiological and pathological changes in maternal nutritional metabolism, endocrine, neurological, and immune pathways during pregnancy, and these changes interact with and are influenced by each other. Challenges posed by the adverse external environment and/or adverse maternal environment (e.g., high maternal blood glucose/lipid levels, maternal thyroid disease, and gestational hypertension) during embryonic development may alter the growth trajectory of the offspring, resulting in growth and development restriction together with various organ and system dysplasia, which in turn cause a series of short-term and long-term diseases in the offspring. As for life cycle health management, efforts should be made to move the “window of opportunity” forward into the pregnancy (prenatal period) and provide appropriate interventions to significantly reduce the risk of chronic metabolic diseases in adulthood.