The American Heart Association conducted a study that showed malnourished children were at higher risk of having high blood pressure during their adult years.
Researchers concluded inadequate nutrition given to children younger than five years old may have affected the heart's normal development.
Terrence Forrester, lead author of the study and professor of experimental medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI), and his colleagues assessed 116 adults aged 20 to 30 who grew up in Jamaica where, malnutrition was highly prevalent. Analysts compared the data collected to that of 45 men and women who received proper nourishment as children. The researchers also measured their height, weight and blood pressure levels. The participants additionally underwent echocardiograms to examine the state of their hearts.
After thorough analysis, the researchers found out that those who were exposed to childhood malnutrition had higher diastolic levels, less efficient pumping of blood by the heart, and higher measurements of peripheral resistance. All of these were linked to having a high risk for high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke and fatal heart disease.
"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, "said Prof. Forrester.
Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when the body does not receive enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to keep tissue and organs healthy. It is commonly experienced by children from developing countries due to nutritional deficiencies. In the United States, more children suffer from malnutrition due to dietary imbalances.
The researchers believe that addressing malnutrition could be a good way of preventing the risks of high blood pressure.
Further details of the study were published in the July issue of Hypertension.
