WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Extensive research carried out in pregnant women, in breastfeeding women and in infants strongly suggests that nutrition in early life has major effects on adult health and wellbeing. Four international top-level scientists will speak about their most recent findings within the field of early nutrition at the symposium "Novel Concepts in the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Diseases". The symposium will take place at the American Society of Nutrition (ASN) annual meeting at San Francisco on April 2, 2006. Chairman of the symposium is David Barker (MD, FRS, University of Southampton, UK & Oregon Health & Science University, USA), laureate of the 2005 Danone International Prize for Nutrition for his groundbreaking work within the field of early nutrition. Co-chairs are Dennis Bier (MD, Baylor College of Medicine, USA - Chairman of ASN) and Emanuel Lebenthal (MD, Hadassah University, Israel).
Four distinguished scientists will present at the symposium:
Sir Patrick Bateson (FRS University of Cambridge, UK) will explain how fetal experience determines some of the characteristics of human adults. Normal development may be disrupted by early environmental influences and individuals who survive have to cope with the damaging consequences. Additionally, the responses required to cope with environmental challenges in early life may have long-term effects on the adult organism. More specifically; well-nourished mothers have offspring who are adapted to affluent conditions; mothers on a low level of nutrition have offspring who are adapted to lean environments. If the mother's forecast of her offspring's future environment is incorrect, the health of her offspring may suffer severely. The developmental plasticity that accounts for the ill health of humans in rapidly changing environments is commonplace in biology. The phenomenon has profound implications for public health.
Susan Bagby (Oregon Science end Health University, Portland, OR, USA) will focus on the mechanisms that link developmentally-induced reduction in nephron(1) number with increased vulnerability to hypertension in postnatal life. Evidence from low-birth-weight humans and animal models supports the concept that development of clinical hypertension in offspring requires a "two-hit" mechanism: 1) low nephron number determined in utero as a form of structural programming, followed by 2) accelerated childhood growth. The latter, which depends both on concomitantly programmed hyperphagia (overeating) and postnatal availability of nutrients, leads to an adult body mass that is excessive in relation to the fixed low renal excretory capacity, even in the absence of obesity. This imbalance is at the cost of increased systemic blood pressure.
Johan G. Eriksson (National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland) will speak about how small body size at birth has repeatedly been associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This association could be due to genetic factors but could also be a consequence of the intrauterine environment. Very little is known about the genes influencing normal variation in fetal growth and the candidate gene approach has not been successful in explaining the associations between birth size and adult health outcomes. Several gene-environment interactions have been reported where body size at birth is associated with different risk profiles depending on genotype. These findings have profound implications for preventive measures and treatment of many non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Being born small and rapid growth after birth are predictors of whether an adult develops high blood pressure. According to Mary Wlodek (University of Melbourne, Australia) studies in rats are determining if restricted nutrition before birth via the placenta or after birth via lactation increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. Wlodek will present her findings that improved nutrition after birth for a baby born small can prevent the development of hypertension. Defining the underlying mechanisms responsible will provide insight into early life interventions that may lessen these adverse consequences for longer-term health. Identification of critical periods after birth, rather than before, could offer a greater likelihood that practical public health interventions can be developed to improve adult health in this emerging field.
The symposium is a key event within the field of early nutrition research and is not to be missed.
- Presentation of the latest scientific information on a topic that is of great interest to future health - Involvement of four international top -level scientists within the field of early nutrition - Opportunity of interview of the speakers and chairpersons - Proceedings to be published soon in The Journal of Nutrition
This Symposium is supported by an educational grant from Danone Institute International, a not-for-profit which promotes the advancement and sharing of relevant scientific knowledge in diet and nutrition at the international level. Danone Institute International is part of an international network including 15 national Danone Institutes around the world, including in the US. Danone Institute International, as well as the creation of 15 local Danone Institutes around the world, concretely illustrates the historical commitment of Danone, one of the leaders of the food industry, towards nutrition and health.
For further information, please contact: Danone Institute International Agnes MARTIN, Ph.D., General Representative Phone: + 33 (0)1 69 35 26 70 E-mail: agnes.martin@danone.com U.S. Media Inquiries: The Dannon Company Michael J. NEUWIRTH Senior Director of Public Relations Tel: (914) 872-8708 , E-mail michael.neuwirth@dannon.com SOURCE: THE DANNON INSTITUTE
(1) A nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. Its chief function is to regulate water and soluble substances by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine. Nephrons eliminate wastes from the body, regulate blood volume and pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood pH.
The Dannon InstituteCONTACT: Agnes Martin, Ph.D., General Representative of Danone InstituteInternational, + 33-01-69-35-26-70, agnes.martin@danone.com; or for U.S.Media Inquiries: Michael J. Neuwirth, Senior Director of Public Relationsof The Dannon Company, +1-914-872-8708, michael.neuwirth@dannon.com
