Heart disease predetermined by oxygen levels in the womb

The amount of oxygen available to a baby in the womb can affect their susceptibility to developing particular diseases later in life. Research presented at the annual Society for Endocrinology BES meeting in Harrogate shows that your risk of developing cardiovascular disease can be predetermined before birth, not only by your genes, but also by their interaction with the quality of the environment you experience in the womb.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Dino Giussani, examined the role that oxygen availability in the womb plays in programming your susceptibility to different diseases. His group found that babies that don't receive enough oxygen in the womb (e.g. due to preeclampsia or placental insufficiency) are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease when they are adult. A reduction of oxygen levels in the womb can lead to reduced growth rates in the baby and to changes in the way that their cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine systems develop. Combined, these alterations to the development of key systems in the body can leave the baby more prone to developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

Dr Giussani's research also indicates methods by which we can potentially combat this problem. The detrimental effects of low oxygen levels on the development of the unborn's cardiovascular system appear to be due to the generation of oxidative stress. Treatment with antioxidants in animal pregnancies complicated by low oxygenation can reverse these effects on the developing cardiovascular system and this could form the basis for new therapeutic techniques to prevent the early origin of heart disease in complicated human pregnancy.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the UK, accounting for 4 in every 10 deaths. Almost 2.6 million people are affected by heart and circulatory conditions in the UK, with someone having a heart attack every 2 seconds.

Scientist Dr Dino Giussani said:

"We have known for a while that changes in maternal nutrition can affect fetal development and influence disease susceptibility later in life, but relatively little work has investigated how low oxygen levels in the womb may affect infant development. Our research shows that changes to the amount of oxygen available in the womb can have a profound influence on the development of the fetus in both the short- and long- term, and trigger an early origin of heart disease.

Interestingly, the adverse effects on the developing heart and circulation of poor fetal oxygenation are due to oxidative stress. This gives us the opportunity to combat prenatal origins of heart disease by fetal exposure to antioxidant therapy. This may halt the development of heart disease at its very origin, bringing preventative medicine back into the womb."


(Editor compiled and published Heart disease predetermined by oxygen levels in the womb at HealthNewsTrack on April 10, 2008 sourced from Society for Endocrinology - http://www.endocrinology.org/)

Pregnancy - recent articles and current news stories:

- Antidepressants use in pregnancy may risk newborn with high blood pressure
- Malaria during pregnancy first trimester - antimalarial is safe
- Low risk pregnant women can opt for home birth
- Polycystic ovary syndrome linked to pregnancy complications
- Healthy diet reduces birth defects risks

Pregnancy article/news source:

Read more health articles from Society for Endocrinology and health articles from UK.

Pregnancy - search related terms:

Birth, Cardiovascular disease, Endocrinology, Heart disease, Life, Oxygen, Preeclampsia, Pregnancy, Womb,
Pregnancy books,

Searched keywords: infant oxygen levels (6), low oxygen levels during pregnancy (6), disease oxygenation (5), low oxygen levels in pregnancy (5),

Subscribe to Health News by Email

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
1.21