Abstract:

Based on the core idea that environment, health and disease are closely related at the molecular level, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) aims to provide a new perspective for the relationship between health and disease, and to trace back how different life experiences affect the risks for health and disease in the whole life process through expertise from multiple disciplines and fields. The developmental critical windows and sensitive periods of adult diseases is no longer limited to pre-pregnancy and pregnancy, the period from delivery to early adulthood has also become an important period of exposure factors. Maternal/paternal factors, environmental factors, neonatal birth status, childhood metabolism and many other influencing factors can change the development process and show positive or negative effects on the long-term health of offspring with different mechanisms, including epigenetics, regulation of metabolism, immunity and oxidative stress. Therefore, for the aim of health promotion, the prevention, the follow-up and simultaneous health intervention of early stage of life should be put a premium stage, in order to reduce the risk of adult diseases and improve full life-cycle health level effectively. Summarizing the latest research progress in the field of DOHaD is of great significance to clarify the impact of adverse events in the early stage of human development on health and disease patterns and find useful interventions.

Key words: Epigenomics, Environmental health, Embryonic and fetal development, Developmental origins of health and disease, Programming, Impact factors