During our phylogenetic evolution we have selected genes, the so called thrifty genes, that can help to maximize\r\nthe amount of energy stored from every consumed calorie. An imbalance in the amount of stored calories can lead\r\nto many diseases. In the early 80�s the distinguished English epidemiologist David Barker, formulated a hypothesis\r\nsuggesting that many events that occur during the intrauterine life and early in infancy can influence the\r\noccurrence of many diseases that will develop in adulthood. This theory proposes that under-nutrition and other\r\ninsult or adverse stimulus in utero and during infancy can permanently change the body�s structure, physiology and\r\nmetabolism. The lasting or lifelong effects of under-nutrition will depend on the period in the development at\r\nwhich it occurs. The clues that led Barker to his conclusions started to be discovered when he was studying the\r\ntemporal trends in the incidence of ischemic heart disease in England and Wales. Examining data found in The\r\nHertfordshire records, collected in the beginning of the last century, he found that the rates of mortality by\r\nischemic heart disease was much higher in children born in less affluent counties and mostly in those with low\r\nbirth weight. After his initial findings a myriad of diseases have been found to be linked to low birth weight and\r\nunder-nutrition in utero and in the neonatal period. These diseases were then nominated adult diseases with fetal\r\norigin. Epidemiological studies that led to these findings suggest that in utero and early postnatal life have critical\r\nimportance for long-term programming of health and disease, opening unique chances for primary prevention of\r\nchronic diseases.
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