Thrifty phenotype

Thrifty phenotype refers to the correlation between low birth weight of neonates and the increased risk of developing metabolic syndromes later in life, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.[1] Although early life undernutrition is thought to be the key driving factor to the hypothesis, other environmental factors have been explored for their role in susceptibility, such as physical inactivity. Genes may also play a role in susceptibility of these diseases, as they may make individuals predisposed to factors that lead to increased disease risk.[2]

  1. ^ Vaag AA, Grunnet LG, Arora GP, Brøns C (August 2012). "The thrifty phenotype hypothesis revisited". Diabetologia. 55 (8): 2085–2088. doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2589-y. PMC 3390698. PMID 22643933.
  2. ^ Hales CN, Barker DJ (2001-11-01). "The thrifty phenotype hypothesis". British Medical Bulletin. 60 (1): 5–20. doi:10.1093/bmb/60.1.5. PMID 11809615.