Long-term effects of nutrition in the first two years of life

Background. Metabolic effects of fetal and early infant nutrition have been suggested to influence the growing organism and moreover the development o f metabolic diseases for long time. However, it was not before the 60(th) t hat the concept of metabolic programming was proven by experimental studies in rats. Role of nutrition.. Several studies during the last years could demonstrate that the hypothesis of "fetal nutritional programming" is valid and that f etal and early nutrition are relevant for the development of distinct metab olic changes which are prevalent in our modern societies. Even if there are some contradictory results of studies, there is a bulk of data supporting this hypothesis. The importance of optimal nutrition during pregnancy and e arly infancy, during "sensible phases" of development is underlined by the fact that the studies have been performed mainly in developed countries. Th e hypothesis on the other hand must be seen as a new concept in the prevent ion of diseases of the western societies.