Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age

Perinatal malnutrition is a critical cause of diseases in offspring. Based on the different rates of organ development, we hypothesised that malnutrition at varying early life stages would have a differential impact on cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults. This study sought to asse...

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Main Authors: Xiuwen Zhou, Yumeng Zhang, Qiutong Zheng, Yi Ding, Daiyi Zhang, Jianhong Pu, Zhice Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Nutritional Science
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000570/type/journal_article
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author Xiuwen Zhou
Yumeng Zhang
Qiutong Zheng
Yi Ding
Daiyi Zhang
Jianhong Pu
Zhice Xu
author_facet Xiuwen Zhou
Yumeng Zhang
Qiutong Zheng
Yi Ding
Daiyi Zhang
Jianhong Pu
Zhice Xu
author_sort Xiuwen Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Perinatal malnutrition is a critical cause of diseases in offspring. Based on the different rates of organ development, we hypothesised that malnutrition at varying early life stages would have a differential impact on cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults. This study sought to assess the long-term impact of exposure to the 1959–1961 Great Chinese Famine (GCF) during early developmental periods on risks of cardiovascular diseases in the late middle-aged offspring. A total 6, 662 individuals, born between 1958 and 1964, were divided into six groups according to the birth date. The generalised line model was used to control age and estimate differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) in blood pressure. Binary logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between famine exposure and cardiovascular diseases. Compared to the unexposed late middle-aged persons, blood pressure was elevated in the entire gestation exposure group, regardless of postnatal exposure to GCF. Increased blood pressure was also found in the female offspring exposed to GCF during early and middle gestation. The early-childhood exposure was associated with the risk of bradycardia in the offspring. The risks of vertebral artery atherosclerosis were elevated in GCF famine-exposed groups except first trimester exposed group. The chronic influence of GCF in early life periods was specific to the developmental timing window, sexesand organs, suggesting an essential role of interactions among multiple factors and prenatal malnutrition in developmentally “programming” cardiovascular diseases.
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publishDate 2024-01-01
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series Journal of Nutritional Science
spelling doaj-art-afe9b15f2adc4630bbfd7c2e0d2dbcd92025-08-20T02:11:26ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Nutritional Science2048-67902024-01-011310.1017/jns.2024.57Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle ageXiuwen Zhou0Yumeng Zhang1Qiutong Zheng2Yi Ding3Daiyi Zhang4Jianhong Pu5Zhice Xu6Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Maternal and Children Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangsu, ChinaInstitute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Maternal and Children Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangsu, ChinaInstitute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Maternal and Children Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Clinical Medicine, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Clinical Medicine, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, ChinaThe Center of Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, ChinaInstitute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Maternal and Children Hospital of Wuxi, Jiangsu, ChinaPerinatal malnutrition is a critical cause of diseases in offspring. Based on the different rates of organ development, we hypothesised that malnutrition at varying early life stages would have a differential impact on cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults. This study sought to assess the long-term impact of exposure to the 1959–1961 Great Chinese Famine (GCF) during early developmental periods on risks of cardiovascular diseases in the late middle-aged offspring. A total 6, 662 individuals, born between 1958 and 1964, were divided into six groups according to the birth date. The generalised line model was used to control age and estimate differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) in blood pressure. Binary logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between famine exposure and cardiovascular diseases. Compared to the unexposed late middle-aged persons, blood pressure was elevated in the entire gestation exposure group, regardless of postnatal exposure to GCF. Increased blood pressure was also found in the female offspring exposed to GCF during early and middle gestation. The early-childhood exposure was associated with the risk of bradycardia in the offspring. The risks of vertebral artery atherosclerosis were elevated in GCF famine-exposed groups except first trimester exposed group. The chronic influence of GCF in early life periods was specific to the developmental timing window, sexesand organs, suggesting an essential role of interactions among multiple factors and prenatal malnutrition in developmentally “programming” cardiovascular diseases.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000570/type/journal_articleAtherosclerosisBlood pressureFoetal exposureGreat Chinese FamineHeart ratePostnatal exposure
spellingShingle Xiuwen Zhou
Yumeng Zhang
Qiutong Zheng
Yi Ding
Daiyi Zhang
Jianhong Pu
Zhice Xu
Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
Journal of Nutritional Science
Atherosclerosis
Blood pressure
Foetal exposure
Great Chinese Famine
Heart rate
Postnatal exposure
title Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
title_full Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
title_fullStr Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
title_full_unstemmed Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
title_short Exposures to great Chinese Famine during embryo, foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
title_sort exposures to great chinese famine during embryo foetal or infant stages link differently with risks of cardiovascular diseases in late middle age
topic Atherosclerosis
Blood pressure
Foetal exposure
Great Chinese Famine
Heart rate
Postnatal exposure
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000570/type/journal_article
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