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The role of mitochondrial DNA in the development of type 2 diabetes caused by fetal malnutrition.

Lee YY, Park KS, Pak YK, Lee HK

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.

Epidemiological studies have revealed strong and reproducible links between indices of poor fetal growth and susceptibility to the development of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance syndrome in adult life. To explain these associations, the thrifty phenotype hypothesis has been proposed. Mitochondrial DNA abnormalities have been known to cause insulin deficiency, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. In this review, we propose that mitochondrial dysfunction is a link between malnutrition during early life and disease in adult life. The potential mechanism for mitochondrial dysfunction will be focused on availability of the taurine and nucleotides, and imprinting on the genes.

Published 5 April 2005 in J Nutr Biochem, 16(4): 195-204.
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