Small size at birth is linked with an increased risk of chronic diseases in later life. Poor
maternal nutrition during gestation may contribute to restricted fetal growth, leading to
increased disease susceptibility in later life. Animal studies have shown that undernutrition
during gestation is associated with reduced life span and increased disease susceptibility.
The Dutch famine is a unique counterpart for animal models that study the effects of
restricted maternal nutrition during different stages of gestation. This paper describes the …