Metabolic programming and epigenetics in pediatrics
By term of “Nutritional programming” we mean the influence of the whole complex of nutritional factors on the development of human organism in the critical periods of its formation (First 1000 Days). In this article the basic mechanisms of metabolic programming and the epigenetic aspects are discussed. A wide variety of negative events may act on embryo andfetus at early stages of development. They include nutrient deficiencies and hypoxia and may lead to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases in later life. The understanding of epigenetic mechanisms of these chronic non-infection diseases leads to a better understanding of infantile origin of human health and disease.