Programación metabólica fetal

Abstract

In the past few years, Mexico has been considered the countrywith the first place in childhood with overweight and obesity. International organizations have reported that 33% of our infant population as being overweight or with obesity. A large number of infants have as risk for metabolic alterations, and when reaching adulthood can present metabolic syndrome, which is a constellation of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia and central obesity. It has been found in animal studies that the fetus can adapt to malnutrition, alter its metabolism, redistribute its blood flow to protect important organs such as the brain, and even adapt to a slower growth in order to diminish its substrate demands. On the other hand, those changescan be permanent in the structure and function of the organism. Barker's theory also known as Intrauterine Programming Effect was the first to propose fetal origin for coronary heart disease. According with this theory the growth and development of the fetus are determined by three factors: the mother's nutritional status, placental function and the ability of the fetus to utilize the nutrients.