Henriksen T, Lande B, Clausen T, Grønn M, Salvesen K
Institutt for ernaeringsforskning, Blindern, Oslo.
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1998 Aug 30;118(20):3162-5.
Foetal or intrauterine nutrition is a subject of increasing interest. There are two main reasons for this. The first one is the observation that being born small for gestational age is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. The second one is the discovery that nutritional factors directly influence activity of genes. If nutritional inadequacies in the foetal period permanently alter the expression of genes, the individual's susceptibility to perinatal complications and diseases later in life may be altered. The main causes of intrauterine malnutrition are poor maternal diet, placental insufficiency, and impaired foetal usage of nutrients. The consequences of foetal malnutrition may include intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformation, a variety of neurological dysfunctions, susceptibility to birth asphyxia, and diseases later in life; all of these are important determinants of health throughout life.
胎儿或宫内营养是一个越来越受关注的主题。原因主要有两个。第一个原因是观察到出生时小于胎龄与日后患心血管疾病和糖尿病的风险增加有关。第二个原因是发现营养因素直接影响基因的活性。如果胎儿期的营养不足永久性地改变基因表达，那么个体日后对围产期并发症和疾病的易感性可能会改变。宫内营养不良的主要原因是母亲饮食不良、胎盘功能不全以及胎儿对营养物质的利用受损。胎儿营养不良的后果可能包括宫内生长迟缓、先天性畸形、各种神经功能障碍、出生时窒息的易感性以及日后的疾病；所有这些都是一生健康的重要决定因素。
