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This paper describes the findings of a historical cohort study of men and women born around the time of the Dutch famine 1944–45. It provided the first direct evidence in humans of the lasting consequences of prenatal undernutrition. The effects of undernutrition depended on its timing during gestation, and the organs and tissues undergoing periods of rapid development at that time. Early gestation appeared to be particularly critical, with the effects of undernutrition being most apparent, even without reductions in size at birth. Undernutrition during gestation affected the structure and function of organs and tissues, altered behaviour and increased risks of chronic degenerative diseases. This demonstrates the fundamental importance of maternal nutrition during gestation as the building blocks for future health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Energy restriction in prenatal life has detrimental effects on later life health and longevity. Studies in rats have shown that the shortening of telomeres in key tissues plays an important role in this association. Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate leukocyte telomere length in relation to prenatal famine exposure. Design: The Dutch famine birth cohort consists of 2414 term singleton men and women who were born between 1943 and 1947 in Amsterdam around the time of the famine. At a mean age of 68 y, telomere length and the percentage of short telomeres was assessed in a subsample of 131 cohort members, of whom 45 were born before the famine (control), 41 were exposed to famine during early gestation, and 45 were conceived after the famine (control). Median telomere length was determined in peripheral blood leukocytes by a high-throughput quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization-based technology. Results: Leukocyte telomere length and the percentage of short telomeres did not differ between those exposed to famine during early gestation and those unexposed during gestation. A lower socioeconomic status at birth, frequent consumption of alcohol (specifically consumption of spirits), a history of cancer, and a lower self-reported health status were significantly associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (all P ≤ 0.03). Currently having a job was significantly associated with a smaller percentage of short telomeres (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that prenatal exposure to famine is not associated with the shortening of telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes at age 68 y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy increases offspring's risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). A possible pathway is by reduced physical fitness and physical activity (PA) levels in children of overweight/obese mother. We assessed whether maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity independently determines cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB) in 8- to 9-year-old children. We also assessed whether child's fat mass (FM) mediates these associations., Methods: One hundred ninety-four children of Dutch ethnicity aged 8.6 (± 0.4) years were randomly selected from a prospective birth cohort, the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study. CRF was assessed by the 20-m multistage shuttle run test (20-m MSRT), muscular strength by hand dynamometry, and MVPA and SB by accelerometry. The association of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m 2 with these outcome measures was assessed by multivariable linear regressions., Results: Mean (± standard deviation) attained 20-m MSRT stage was 5.3 (± 1.7). Compared with children from normal weight women, children of women with prepregnancy overweight/obesity attained a 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.15-1.50) lower stage, adjusted for child's sex and MVPA. This association was not mediated by birthweight or child's FM at age 5 years. Maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity was not associated with child's muscular strength, MVPA, or SB., Conclusions: Maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity was associated with reduced childhood CRF, but not with muscular strength, PA, or SB. Birthweight and FM at age 5 years did not mediate this association. Reduced CRF may partly explain the increased CVD risk in children of overweight/obese women.