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Nutrients Apr 2020Preterm infants may show a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, such as the development of metabolic syndrome and cognitive impairment. The most recent evidence... (Review)
Review
Preterm infants may show a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, such as the development of metabolic syndrome and cognitive impairment. The most recent evidence highlights that nutrition, body composition development, and early postnatal growth may play a role in the programming of these processes. Human milk feeding has been recommended as the natural feeding for preterm infants and as a cost-effective strategy for reducing disease and economic burden. Considering that the postnatal growth retardation and aberrant body composition shown by preterm infants at the time of hospital discharge still remain important issues, we performed a literature review, aiming to provide an update about the effect of human milk feeding on these processes. On the basis of our findings, human milk feeding in preterm infants, although related to a slower weight gain than formula feeding, is associated with a better recovery of body composition through the promotion of fat-free mass deposition, which may ultimately lead to better metabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Promotion and support of human milk feeding should be considered a priority in preterm infants' care.
Topics: Body Composition; Body Fat Distribution; Breast Feeding; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Infant; Infant Health; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Milk, Human; Weight Gain
PubMed: 32326178
DOI: 10.3390/nu12041155 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Aug 2018It is unclear whether maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation improves fetal and infant growth in regions where vitamin D deficiency is common. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation improves fetal and infant growth in regions where vitamin D deficiency is common.
METHODS
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Bangladesh to assess the effects of weekly prenatal vitamin D supplementation (from 17 to 24 weeks of gestation until birth) and postpartum vitamin D supplementation on the primary outcome of infants' length-for-age z scores at 1 year according to World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. One group received neither prenatal nor postpartum vitamin D (placebo group). Three groups received prenatal supplementation only, in doses of 4200 IU (prenatal 4200 group), 16,800 IU (prenatal 16,800 group), and 28,000 IU (prenatal 28,000 group). The fifth group received prenatal supplementation as well as 26 weeks of postpartum supplementation in the amount of 28,000 IU (prenatal and postpartum 28,000 group).
RESULTS
Among 1164 infants assessed at 1 year of age (89.5% of 1300 pregnancies), there were no significant differences across groups in the mean (±SD) length-for-age z scores. Scores were as follows: placebo, -0.93±1.05; prenatal 4200, -1.11±1.12; prenatal 16,800, -0.97±0.97; prenatal 28,000, -1.06±1.07; and prenatal and postpartum 28,000, -0.94±1.00 (P=0.23 for a global test of differences across groups). Other anthropometric measures, birth outcomes, and morbidity did not differ significantly across groups. Vitamin D supplementation had expected effects on maternal and infant serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium concentrations, maternal urinary calcium excretion, and maternal parathyroid hormone concentrations. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of adverse events across groups, with the exception of a higher rate of possible hypercalciuria among the women receiving the highest dose.
CONCLUSIONS
In a population with widespread prenatal vitamin D deficiency and fetal and infant growth restriction, maternal vitamin D supplementation from midpregnancy until birth or until 6 months post partum did not improve fetal or infant growth. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01924013 .).
Topics: Adult; Bangladesh; Body Height; Developing Countries; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Growth; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lactation; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamins
PubMed: 30089075
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1800927 -
Journal of Clinical Research in... 2011Thyroid hormones regulate growth by several mechanisms. In addition to their negative feedback effect on the stimulatory hormones thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and... (Review)
Review
Thyroid hormones regulate growth by several mechanisms. In addition to their negative feedback effect on the stimulatory hormones thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid hormones also regulate their receptors in various physiological and pathological conditions. Up-regulation and down-regulation of the thyroid receptors fine-tune the biological effects exerted by the thyroid hormones. Interestingly, the deiodinase enzyme system is another intrinsic regulator of thyroid physiology that adjusts the availability of thyroid hormones to the tissues, which is essential for normal growth and development. Almost all chronic diseases of childhood impair growth and development. Every disease may have a unique mechanism to halt linear growth, but reduced serum concentration or diminished local availability of thyroid hormones seems to be a common pathway. Therefore, the effects of systemic diseases on thyroid physiology must be taken into consideration in the evaluation of growth retardation in affected children.
Topics: Child; Growth; Growth Disorders; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Kidney Diseases; Liver Diseases; Malnutrition; Mental Disorders; Obesity; Thyroid Hormones
PubMed: 21750631
DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.v3i2.11 -
Nutrition Reviews Mar 2016In this review, the potential causes and consequences of adult height, a measure of cumulative net nutrition, in modern populations are summarized. The mechanisms... (Review)
Review
In this review, the potential causes and consequences of adult height, a measure of cumulative net nutrition, in modern populations are summarized. The mechanisms linking adult height and health are examined, with a focus on the role of potential confounders. Evidence across studies indicates that short adult height (reflecting growth retardation) in low- and middle-income countries is driven by environmental conditions, especially net nutrition during early years. Some of the associations of height with health and social outcomes potentially reflect the association between these environmental factors and such outcomes. These conditions are manifested in the substantial differences in adult height that exist between and within countries and over time. This review suggests that adult height is a useful marker of variation in cumulative net nutrition, biological deprivation, and standard of living between and within populations and should be routinely measured. Linkages between adult height and health, within and across generations, suggest that adult height may be a potential tool for monitoring health conditions and that programs focused on offspring outcomes may consider maternal height as a potentially important influence.
Topics: Adult; Body Height; Developing Countries; Diet; Environment; Growth; Humans; Nutritional Status; Public Health; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 26928678
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv105 -
Early Human Development Dec 2021Maternal behaviors and exposures affect fetal growth and development. Smoking, malnutrition, sedentary behavior, and stress can each lead to fetal programming and...
BACKGROUND
Maternal behaviors and exposures affect fetal growth and development. Smoking, malnutrition, sedentary behavior, and stress can each lead to fetal programming and intra-uterine growth restriction. As a result, tissue development may be impaired. Problems with muscle formation can lead to reductions in muscle performance throughout life. The purpose of this study was to determine if in utero effects on muscle mass, muscle function, or both are responsible for the relationship between size at birth and adult muscle strength.
STUDY DESIGN
One hundred adults (ages 18-40), who were singletons born at term (37-42 weeks), participated. Birth weight was adjusted for gestational age using neonatal growth reference data. Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of dominant and non-dominant handgrip, and right and left leg extension were measured. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between adjusted birth weight and muscle strength. Sex and lean body mass were covariates.
RESULTS
Dominant handgrip MVC increased by 1.533 kg per 1 SD increase in adjusted birth weight (p = 0.004). Lean body mass had a significant indirect effect on this relationship. The relationship between handgrip strength and adjusted birth weight was strongest among female subjects. No other muscle strength measures were significantly associated with adjusted birth weight.
CONCLUSIONS
Birth size was a significant predictor of handgrip strength in adulthood. Including lean body mass attenuated, but did not remove, the association. Thus, among individuals born to term, having a smaller-than-predicted birth size likely causes both reductions in muscle mass formation and decreased muscle function, ultimately impacting muscle strength in adulthood.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Birth Weight; Body Composition; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Hand Strength; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Muscle Strength; Young Adult
PubMed: 34717155
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105490 -
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology :... Feb 2013The perinatal literature includes several potentially confusing and controversial terms and concepts related to fetal size and growth. This article discusses fetal... (Review)
Review
The perinatal literature includes several potentially confusing and controversial terms and concepts related to fetal size and growth. This article discusses fetal growth from an obstetric perspective and addresses various issues including the physiologic mechanisms that determine fetal growth trajectories, known risk factors for abnormal fetal growth, diagnostic and prognostic issues related to restricted and excessive growth and temporal trends in fetal growth. Also addressed are distinctions between fetal growth 'standards' and fetal growth 'references', and between fetal growth charts based on estimated fetal weight vs those based on birth weight. Other concepts discussed include the incidence of fetal growth restriction in pregnancy (does the frequency of fetal growth restriction increase or decrease with increasing gestation?), the obstetric implications of studies showing associations between fetal growth and adult chronic illnesses (such as coronary heart disease) and the need for customizing fetal growth standards.
Topics: Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetal Macrosomia; Fetal Weight; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Reference Standards; Reference Values; Risk Factors; Terminology as Topic; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Umbilical Arteries; Weight Gain
PubMed: 22648955
DOI: 10.1002/uog.11204 -
Journal of Medicine and Life Jun 2014The assessment of fetal growth represents a fundamental step towards the identification of the true growth restricted fetus that is associated to important perinatal... (Review)
Review
The assessment of fetal growth represents a fundamental step towards the identification of the true growth restricted fetus that is associated to important perinatal morbidity and mortality. The possible ways of detecting abnormal fetal growth are taken into consideration in this review and their strong and weak points are discussed. An important debate still remains about how to discriminate between the physiologically small fetus that does not require special surveillance and the truly growth restricted fetus who is predisposed to perinatal complications, even if its parameters are above the cut-off limits established. In this article, we present the clinical tools of fetal growth assessment: Symphyseal-Fundal Height (SFH) measurement, the fetal ultrasound parameters widely taken into consideration when discussing fetal growth: Abdominal Circumference (AC) and Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW); several types of growth charts and their characteristics: populational growth charts, standard growth charts, individualized growth charts, customized growth charts and growth trajectories.
Topics: Body Weight; Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Growth Retardation; Growth Charts; Humans; Organ Size; Ultrasonography; Uterus
PubMed: 25408718
DOI: No ID Found -
Nutrition Journal Dec 2016Plant derived phenolic compounds have been shown to inhibit the initiation and progression of cancers by modulating genes regulating key processes such as: (a) oncogenic... (Review)
Review
Plant derived phenolic compounds have been shown to inhibit the initiation and progression of cancers by modulating genes regulating key processes such as: (a) oncogenic transformation of normal cells; (b) growth and development of tumors; and (c) angiogenesis and metastasis. Recent studies focusing on identifying the molecular basis of plant phenolics-induced cancer cell death have demonstrated down-regulation of: (a) oncogenic survival kinases such as PI3K and Akt; (b) cell proliferation regulators that include Erk1/2, D-type Cyclins, and Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs); (c) transcription factors such as NF-kβ, NRF2 and STATs; (d) histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2; and (e) angiogenic factors VEGF, FGFR1 and MIC-1. Furthermore, while inhibiting oncogenic proteins, the phenolic compounds elevate the expression of tumor suppressor proteins p53, PTEN, p21, and p27. In addition, plant phenolic compounds and the herbal extracts rich in phenolic compounds modulate the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells thereby regulate cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that phenolic compounds undergo transformation in gut microbiota thereby acquire additional properties that promote their biological activities. In vitro observations, preclinical and epidemiological studies have shown the involvement of plant phenolic acids in retarding the cancer growth. However, to date, there is no clinical trial as such testing the role of plant phenolic compounds for inhibiting tumor growth in humans. More over, several variations in response to phenolic acid rich diets-mediated treatment among individuals have also been reported, raising concerns about whether phenolic acids could be used for treating cancers. Therefore, we have made an attempt to (a) address the key structural features of phenolic acids required for exhibiting potent anti-cancer activity; (b) review the reported findings about the mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds and their transformation by gut microbiota; and
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Diet; Disease Models, Animal; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Neoplasms; Nutritive Value; Phenols; Phytochemicals; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 27903278
DOI: 10.1186/s12937-016-0217-2 -
Cellular & Molecular Immunology Mar 2023Upon recognition of foreign antigens, naïve B cells undergo rapid activation, growth, and proliferation. How B-cell growth and proliferation are coupled with activation...
Upon recognition of foreign antigens, naïve B cells undergo rapid activation, growth, and proliferation. How B-cell growth and proliferation are coupled with activation remains poorly understood. Combining CRISPR/Cas9-mediated functional analysis and mouse genetics approaches, we found that Dhx33, an activation-induced RNA helicase, plays a critical role in coupling B-cell activation with growth and proliferation. Mutant mice with B-cell-specific deletion of Dhx33 exhibited impaired B-cell development, germinal center reactions, plasma cell differentiation, and antibody production. Dhx33-deficient B cells appeared normal in the steady state and early stage of activation but were retarded in growth and proliferation. Mechanistically, Dhx33 played an indispensable role in activation-induced upregulation of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription. In the absence of Dhx33, activated B cells were compromised in their ability to ramp up 47S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) production and ribosome biogenesis, resulting in nucleolar stress, p53 accumulation, and cellular death. Our findings demonstrate an essential role for Dhx33 in coupling B-cell activation with growth and proliferation and suggest that Dhx33 inhibition is a potential therapy for lymphoma and antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; RNA, Ribosomal; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 36631557
DOI: 10.1038/s41423-022-00972-0 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2021Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are associated with different patterns of malnutrition and growth retardation, which may vary worldwide and need to be evaluated...
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are associated with different patterns of malnutrition and growth retardation, which may vary worldwide and need to be evaluated according to local conditions. Although tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the first described CHDs, the etiology outcomes in growth and development of TOF in early age child is still unclear in most cases. This study was designed to investigate the growth retardation status of Chinese pediatric TOF patients under 5 years old. The body height, body weight and body mass index (BMI) of 262 pediatric patients (138 boys and 124 girls) who underwent corrective surgery for TOF between 2014 and 2018 were measured using conventional methods. The average body height, body weight and BMI of the patients were significantly lower than WHO Child Growth Standards, while the most affected was body height. Meanwhile, higher stunting frequency and greater deterioration of both the body height and weight happened in elder age (aged 13-60 months) rather than in infant stage (aged 0-12 months) among these patients. Our results confirmed that intervention should be given at early age to prevent the growth retardation of TOF patients getting severer.
Topics: Body Height; Body Weight; Child, Preschool; China; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Tetralogy of Fallot
PubMed: 34244570
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93726-3