Developmental programming of type 2 diabetes: early nutrition and epigenetic mechanisms.

Developmental programming of type 2 diabetes: early nutrition and epigenetic mechanisms. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015 Jul;18(4):354-60 Authors: Ong TP, Ozanne SE Abstract PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The environment experienced during critical windows of development can 'programme' long-term health and risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes in the offspring. The purpose of this review is to discuss potential epigenetic mechanisms involved in the developmental programming of type 2 diabetes by early nutrition. RECENT FINDINGS: Maternal and more recently paternal nutrition have been shown to play key roles in metabolic programming of the offspring. Although the exact mechanisms are still not clear, epigenetic processes have emerged as playing a plausible role. Epigenetic dysregulation is associated with several components that contribute to type 2 diabetes risk, including altered feeding behaviour, insulin secretion and insulin action. It may also contribute to transgenerational risk transmission. SUMMARY: Epigenetic processes may represent a central underlying mechanism of developmental programming of type 2 diabetes. During embryonic and foetal development, extensive epigenetic remodelling takes place not only in somatic but also in primordial germ cells. Therefore, concerns have been raised that epigenetic dysregulation induced by a suboptimal early environment could programme altered phenotypes not only in...
Source: Diabetes Metab - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care Source Type: research