International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:1330-1331
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Perinatal epidemiology |
Commentary: Early catch-up growth is good for later health
National Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Diabetes and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: Johan.Eriksson@ktl.fi
The importance of events before birth for lifetime health has been observed and confirmed in many populations.15 In the past when infectious diseases were even more common than today it was self-evident that non-optimal early growth affected health later in life. Recent findings point towards the importance of events during critical periods of growth and development in the pathogenesis of many non-communicable diseases, e.g. coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes.68 It is now well established that the development of a fetus in an abnormal intrauterine environment implies structural and
References