Malnutrition during childhood - specifically, from the prenatal period up to age 5 - significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure in adulthood and has a direct impact on the development of heart, new research shows.
"If nutritional needs are not met during this time, when structures of the body are highly susceptible to potentially irreversible change, it could have long-term consequences on heart anatomy and blood flow later in life," study senior author Terrence Forrester, Ph.D., chief scientist, UWI Solutions for Developing Countries, at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, said in a press release.
"We are concerned that millions of people globally who suffer malnutrition before or after birth are at increased risk of hypertension in later life," Forrester said.
For the study, the researchers examined 115 adults who suffered malnutrition growing up in Jamaica. The team also looked into the data of 45 men and women who were adequately fed as children. The ages of the participants were between 20 and 40. The team measured the height, weight and blood pressure levels of the participants who also had to undergo echocardiograms or imaging tests to evaluate heart function.
The research observations showed participants who suffered early childhood malnutrition were more likely to show higher diastolic blood pressure readings and peripheral resistance. Their hearts were also less efficient in pumping.
"An investment in nutrition and general health will have huge public health dividends, including these longer-term risks of chronic heart and metabolic diseases that cost so much in human lives," said Forrester.
The findings were published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.
