Cited by 790Birth, Development, and HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studiesPrenatal Substance Exposure Effects

The developmental origins of chronic adult disease

Barker, DJP·2004·Acta Paediatrica

Abstract

Low birthweight is now known to be associated with increased rates of coronary heart disease and the related disorders stroke, hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. These associations have been extensively replicated in studies in different countries and are not the result of confounding variables. They extend across the normal range of birthweight and depend on lower birthweights in relation to the duration of gestation rather than the effects of premature birth. The associations are thought to be consequences of developmental plasticity, the phenomenon by which one genotype can give rise to a range of different physiological or morphological states in response to different environmental conditions during development. Recent observations have shown that impaired growth in infancy and rapid childhood weight gain exacerbate the effects of impaired prenatal growth. Coronary heart disease and the disorders related to it arise through a series of interactions between environmental influences and the pathways of development that preceded them. These diseases are the product of branching pathways of development in which the branchings are triggered by the environment before and after birth.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb00236.x

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Authors
Barker, D.
Affiliations
Southampton General Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Barker, DJP
Venue
Acta Paediatrica
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-11
Volume
93
Issue
s446
Pages
26-33
ISSN
  • 0365-1436 (ISSN-L)
  • 0803-5253
  • 1651-2227
OpenAlex
W2143230895
Cited by
790
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 45
FWCI
17.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Acta Paediatrica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
Keywords
developmental origins of health and disease, low birth weight, coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, developmental plasticity, fetal growth restriction, gestational age, child weight gain, environmental influences on development
MeSH terms
Adult, Birth Weight, Cardiovascular Diseases, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male

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