Sayer A A, Cooper C, Evans J R, Rauf A, Wormald R P, Osmond C, Barker D J
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton S016 6YD, UK.
Age Ageing. 1998 Sep;27(5):579-83. doi: 10.1093/ageing/27.5.579.
epidemiological studies have shown that poor early growth is associated with cardiovascular and other degenerative diseases. This has been explained by programming, whereby undernutrition and other influences which restrict early growth permanently change the structure and physiology of the body. The long-term effects of poor early nutrition on ageing have been demonstrated in animals but not studied in man.
to determine if poor early growth was associated with increased markers of ageing in later life.
we traced 1428 men and women, born in Hertfordshire between 1920 and 1930, for whom records of early weight were available. 824 (58%) were interviewed at home and 717 (50%) attended clinic for eye examination, audiometry, grip strength measurement, skin thickness ultrasound and anthropometry.
lower weight at 1 year was associated with increased lens opacity score, higher hearing threshold, reduced grip strength and thinner skin. Visual acuity, macular degeneration and intraocular pressure were not related to early growth.
the associations between early growth and markers of ageing suggest that in some systems, ageing may be programmed by events in early life. A potential mechanism is the impaired development of repair systems.
流行病学研究表明，早期生长发育不良与心血管疾病及其他退行性疾病有关。这可以通过“编程”来解释，即营养不良和其他限制早期生长的因素会永久性地改变身体的结构和生理机能。早期营养状况不佳对衰老的长期影响在动物身上已得到证实，但在人类中尚未进行研究。
确定早期生长发育不良是否与晚年衰老标志物增加有关。
我们追踪了1920年至1930年间出生在赫特福德郡且有早期体重记录的1428名男性和女性。其中824人（58%）接受了家访，717人（50%）到诊所进行了眼部检查、听力测试、握力测量、皮肤厚度超声检查和人体测量。
1岁时体重较低与晶状体混浊评分增加、听力阈值升高、握力降低和皮肤变薄有关。视力、黄斑变性和眼压与早期生长无关。
早期生长与衰老标志物之间的关联表明，在某些系统中，衰老可能由生命早期的事件所“编程”。一个潜在的机制是修复系统发育受损。
