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Background: Many studies in humans have related birth weight to lipid profiles in adulthood. Fewer have estimated associations directly attributable to maternal nutrition during pregnancy. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether famine exposure during gestation is associated with a more atherogenic profile in adult offspring. Design: In 2003-2005, we studied 1) 359 singleton men and women born between January 1945 and March 1946 in clinics in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Leiden whose mothers were exposed to the famine during pregnancy; 2) 299 singletons born in the same 3 institutions during 1943 or 1947; and 3) 313 unexposed same-sex siblings of the above individuals. A lipid profile was obtained after an overnight fast. Results: Female offspring with prenatal famine exposure had a dyslipidemic pattern characterized by elevated total cholesterol (0.26 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.46; P = 0.007), triglycerides (0.17 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.31; P = 0.02), and LDL cholesterol (0.17 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.36; P = 0.06) compared with unexposed offspring. This pattern was not seen in men. The increases in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were independent of body mass index, waist circumference, and midthigh circumference. The increase in triglycerides was independent of midthigh circumference but was attenuated with control for either body mass index or waist circumference. There was no evidence for associations within specific gestational windows. No association was observed between prenatal famine exposure and HDL cholesterol in either sex. Conclusion: In women, but not in men, aged [approximately equal to] 58 y, we observed an association between prenatal undernutrition and elevated total cholesterol concentrations and triglycerides.

Background: Few studies in humans have related maternal under-nutrition to the size of the adult offspring. Objective: The objective was to assess whether reductions in food intake by pregnant women during the Dutch famine of 1944-1945 were related to offspring length, weight, and indexes of adiposity in middle age. Design: We recruited 1) exposed persons born in western Netherlands between January 1945 and March 1946 whose mothers experienced famine during or immediately preceding pregnancy, 2) unexposed persons born in the same 3 institutions during 1943 or 1947 whose mothers did not experience famine during this pregnancy, and 3) unexposed same-sex siblings of persons in series 1 or 2. Anthro-pometric measurements (n = 427 males and 529 females) were obtained between 2003 and 2005. We defined 4 windows of gestational exposure (by ordinal weeks 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, and 31 through delivery) on the basis of exposure to a ration of Results: Exposure to reduced rations was associated with increased weight and greater indexes of fat deposition at several tissue sites in women but not in men (P for interaction Conclusion: Reduced food availability may lead to increased adiposity later in life in female offspring. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85: 869-76. KEY WORDS Anthropometric measures, body composition, body mass index, body size, famine, maternal and infant health, Netherlands, nutrition, obesity

Background: Limited evidence suggests that maternal undernutrition at the time of conception is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in adult offspring. Objective: We investigated whether persons conceived during the Dutch famine of World War II had an early onset of coronary artery disease (CAD). Design: We compared the age at onset and cumulative incidence of CAD between persons born as term singletons who were exposed to the 1944-1945 Dutch famine during late (n = 160), mid- (n = 138), or early (n = 87) gestation and 590 unexposed subjects at age 50 or 58 y. Age at CAD onset was defined as the age at which angina pectoris was identified (according to the Rose questionnaire), Q waves were observed on an electrocardiogram (Minnesota codes l-1 or 1-2), or coronary revascularization was performed (by angioplasty or bypass surgery). Results: Of the 83 CAD cases identified, persons conceived during the famine were 3 y younger than the unexposed persons at the time of CAD diagnosis (47 y compared with 50 y) and had a higher cumulative incidence of CAD [13%; hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for sex: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.0, 3.8] than did the unexposed persons. The HR changed little after adjustment for smoking (HR: 1.8), social class (HR: 2.0), or size at birth (HR: 2.0). Conclusions: We found an earlier onset of CAD among persons conceived during the famine, which suggests that maternal nutrition in early gestation may play a role in the onset of CAD. This finding agrees with evidence from animal experiments that identify periconceptional maternal diet as important in the offspring's adult health. KEY WORDS Coronary artery disease, age at onset, maternal nutrition, maternal starvation, pregnancy, cardiovascular programming

An analysis of the current famine striking Southern Africa, the causes of it and the reasons why it is having such an impact. It is contended that the growing number of people suffering with HIV/Aids is having a great impact, making sick or killing off the people who would be best able to help famine-stricken communities get through the worst of their problems.

Studies revealed that millions of African women are either suffering from starvation or AIDS. Results also proved the direct link between AIDS and famine.