There is a strong association
between maternal nutrition and poor infant nutrition. Undernourishment
during critical periods in
development can lead
to adverse health outcomes and can increase the risk of developing
non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and
cardiovascular disease in the offspring later in life (Developmental origins of health and disease or DoHAD). It also
leads to the
development of maladaptive responses in the child as a way to compensate for poor nutrition1.
Studies in India have shown the association between low birth weight
(< 2.5 Kg) and the risk of developing non-communicable diseases in
later life. For instance, in India the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study showed
that low maternal vitamin B12 status was associated with an increased
adiposity and insulin resistance in the children especially if
the mother was folate replete. Another study in Delhi has shown that low infant
weight is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in later life2.
This happens as
low birth babies try to catch up on growth which can be a
disadvantageous process in itself as it imposes an excess demand on other
tissues which are not capable of compensatory hyperplasia (increase in number
of cells) such as pancreas which can alter body composition. Moreover even if
the infant gets good nutrition few years after birth, it is not very beneficial
as some of the tissues
lose the capacity to keep dividing such as the muscles. Besides the hormones that
drive the catch up growth have adverse cardiovascular and metabolic effects2.
“Under nutrition of the mother during her
own foetal life and childhood growth limits the growth of her foetus2”
Therefore, good
nutritional
status of a woman at the time of conception and during pregnancy is very crucial
for foetal growth.
1. Souganidis ES. The importance of early
nutritional intervention Sight and life. 2011;25(3):30-36.
