Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Metabolic imprinting
Introduction
Metabolic imprinting refers to the epigenetic programming of metabolism during the pre-natal and neo-natal periods.
Studies in both humans and animals have shown that the events during gestation and early post-natal stages may have long term consequences for health. Fetal under-nutrition is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type II diabetes and hypertension, amongst other diseases