# Impact of Early Life Famine Exposure on Body Composition and Metabolic Profiles in Adulthood

## TL;DR

Early life famine exposure is linked to long-term changes in body composition and increased risk of metabolic issues like high blood pressure and cholesterol in adulthood.

## Contribution

This study identifies specific associations between famine exposure during different life stages and adult metabolic profiles, including gender-specific differences.

## Key findings

- Fetal and childhood famine exposure is associated with higher BMI, FMI, and blood pressure in adulthood.
- Childhood and adolescence famine exposure leads to reduced muscle mass and altered lipid metabolism in adulthood.
- Females exposed to famine show higher body fat and blood lipid levels compared to males.

## Abstract

The relationship between the famine and metabolic syndrome has been reported, but there is a lack of more detailed changes in metabolic profiles. It is unclear how famine affects body composition. This study included 21,142 participants from the China National Health Survey. The body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and fat‐free mass index (FFMI) were calculated. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood lipids, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. Multivariate adjusted linear regression models were used to assess the association between famine and outcome. Our results shown that fetal‐exposed group had higher BMI and FMI (β > 0). Childhood‐exposed group showed an average decrease of 0.08 standard deviation (SD) in FFMI, and adolescence‐exposed group had lower BMI and FFMI than non‐exposed group. SBP were 0.38 SD higher in fetal‐exposed group, 0.58 SD higher in childhood‐exposed group and 0.85 SD higher in adolescence‐exposed group than non‐exposed group. Famine‐exposed groups had higher total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), and FBG levels (β > 0). For females with famine exposure, they had a higher BMI, FMI, LDL‐C, TG, and TC than males. Overall, early famine exposure is associated with increased blood pressure, LDL‐C, TC, and FBG. Muscle mass loss in adulthood associated with childhood and adolescence famine exposure. Famine‐exposed females appear to have higher levels of body fat and blood lipids.

Early life famine exposure was closely related to sarcopenia, hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in later life, and the impact of famine exposure on females seems to be more significant than males. This study might provide evidence of long‐term famine effects on body composition.

Early‐life famine exposure is linked to increased FMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), LDL‐C, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, with notable effects observed in fetal‐exposed and childhood‐exposed groups.Childhood and adolescence famine exposure is associated with decreased muscle mass in adulthood, indicating potential long‐term effects on body composition.Females exposed to famine show higher levels of body fat, LDL‐C, triglycerides (TG), and TC compared to males, suggesting a gender‐specific vulnerability to metabolic changes following early‐life famine.Rural‐born individuals exposed to famine during childhood and adolescence had lower BMI and FMI, but higher lipid levels, suggesting that famine may have had a significant impact on lipid metabolism.

Early‐life famine exposure is linked to increased FMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), LDL‐C, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, with notable effects observed in fetal‐exposed and childhood‐exposed groups.

Childhood and adolescence famine exposure is associated with decreased muscle mass in adulthood, indicating potential long‐term effects on body composition.

Females exposed to famine show higher levels of body fat, LDL‐C, triglycerides (TG), and TC compared to males, suggesting a gender‐specific vulnerability to metabolic changes following early‐life famine.

Rural‐born individuals exposed to famine during childhood and adolescence had lower BMI and FMI, but higher lipid levels, suggesting that famine may have had a significant impact on lipid metabolism.