A Meta-Analysis of the DOHaD hypothesis in the context of Famine: Exploring the Effects at Different Ages of Exposure
Research Poster Social & Behavioral Sciences 2025 Graduate ExhibitionPresentation by Krishangi Jasani
Exhibition Number 148
Abstract
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis states that environmental influences during critical periods of development induce genetic, epigenetic, or physiological changes which increase the risk of chronic and metabolic disorders. A comprehensive analysis to see whether the hypothesis is applicable to multiple health outcomes across global populations and at different ages of exposure has currently not been established. This study tested the hypothesis in the context of famine by examining the health outcomes of hypertension and diabetes through a systematic review following the guidelines of MOOSE and PRISMA protocols, identifying papers that examined famine exposure across peri-natal, childhood and adolescence. Data was extracted from screened papers and further analyzed with a random effects model. In addition to revealing significant results for overall exposure to famine and the two health outcomes, strong associations were found for childhood famine exposure and risk of diabetes and hypertension in adulthood (pooled OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.47, p=0.0014; pooled OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.47, p=0.0002) as well as adolescent famine exposure and increased diabetes risk (pooled OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.09, p=<.0001). Thus, it is not only in-utero and fetal famine exposure that leads to increased risk and prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in adulthood but also childhood and adolescent exposure, indicating environmental influences may affect individuals even at later stages of development. This suggests a need to further investigate mechanisms that contribute to these associations to yield a comprehensive understanding of current trends seen worldwide.
Importance
The DOHaD hypothesis is one of the ways through which epigenetic modifications can be studied and explained. It highlights the influences environmental, social, cultural and behavioral factors can have on critical stages of development which leads to increased vulnerability of severe health outcomes in adult life. This hypothesis helps in understanding the links between behavior, nutrition and genetic changes that occurs in a single lifetime which can have lasting effects if passed on to forthcoming generations. With rapid increases in non-communicable disease (NCDs), especially in low-an-middle income countries, this hypothesis could potentially provide holistic explanations for current trends observed by considering not just genetic diversity but also economic and socio-cultural diversity as well as the interaction between the two.