| | We have found a link between exposure to famine in utero and an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. Maternal undernutrition appears to have long lasting effects on health in later life. But we still need answers to the following questions:
- Why is there and increase in coronary heart disease?
- Why is there and increase in diabetes?
- What about other aspects of health and disease?
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Stress Stress, an exaggerated response to stress in particular, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
We are investigating whether people who were exposed to famine in utero have an altered stress response. We are doing so by studying their response, in terms of blood pressure and salivary cortisol, to a standardized battery of psychological stressors. The first results are now available here. A small random sub sample of 100 people also underwent a low dose dexamethasone suppression synacten test. The first results of this study are now available here. | |
| | Atherosclerosis Thicker vessel walls and decreased vessel elasticity both predispose to cardiovascular disease.
We performed ultrasound measurements of the intima media thickness of the carotid and femoral artery in all participants. We also assessed vessel elasticity by ultrasound. We will thus be able to determine whether cardiovascular disease risk among people exposed to famine in utero is mediated by increased atherosclerosis. For the first results of this study click here. |
Genetics Genes are an important factor in determining an individuals risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
We have stored DNA of all participants in our DNA bank. Our aim is to determine whether, given a certain genetic make-up, people have a differential response to famine exposure in utero. Other studies have shown that common polymorphisms are only associated with increased health risks in people that were small or thin at birth. The first results are now available here. | |
| | Diabetes: a pancreatic problem? Type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance. The amount of insulin necessary to keep blood glucose within normal limits increases. Insulin is produced by the pancreas. In people who have developed type 2 diabetes, the pancreas cannot meet the increased insulin demand: blood sugar levels rise.
People exposed to famine in utero were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. We aim to determine whether the increase in type 2 diabetes is due to an increase in insulin resistance, or whether it is due to limited pancreas capacity for insulin production.
A random subsample of 100 people underwent intravenous glucose tolerance testing. The first results are now available here. |
Other aspects of health and disease Dutch famine studies have shown a link between famine exposure in utero and increases in both cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Besides finding out more about the mechanisms responsible for these increases, we are interested in the possible effects prenatal famine exposure may have had on other aspects of health and disease, including cancer , psychiatric disorders, gastro intestinal complaints, osteoporosis and opthalmological disorders.
In the future we hope to be able to continue this ongoing study to find answers to these questions. | |
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Dutch Famine Study