Early Nutrition: Effects of Specific Nutrient Intake on Growth, Development, and Long-Term Health

Metabolic programming by early nutrition is sufficiently supported by animal and human scientific evidences. Metabolic programming by early nutrition occurs when a nutritional stimulus (by excess or defect) is produced during a critical period (when organs and tissues are growing and developing), modulating the development of the organism to take place at the specific time period, and subsequently “programming” a structure or function that will have long-term health consequences. These critical periods of development while a structure or function can be programmed embrace preconception, pregnancy and early infancy; the nutrition stimulus by which long-term health can be affected are manifold; and, the interaction between both factors (time frame and nutrient) are numerous as well. Therefore, different nutrients may affect differently as a structure or function, depending on the critical period of development and if the nutrient is being supplied in excess or in defect.