Abstract: Fetal origins of adult diseases, as well as mechanisms, are the research hot topics in recent years. These diseases are involved to the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, immune system and neuropsychiatric system, covering all major tissues and organs, which cause serious harm to human health. The maternal adverse exposure is also extended from simple malnutrition to hormone abnormalities, chemical exposure, mental condition and other factors during pregnancy. Both the developmental plasticity theory and epigenetic abnormality theory are introduced to explain the mechanisms of the early fetal origins of adult diseases from the organ development to molecular level. This paper reviewed the types of fetal original adult diseases, types of adverse exposure and the underlying mechanisms, as well as the research history of related diseases.

Key words: Fertile period, Epigenesis, genetic, Embryonic development, Fetal origins of adult disease