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In Utero Programming

Meaning

In Utero Programming refers to the process by which environmental and nutritional exposures experienced by a fetus during critical periods of gestation permanently alter the structure, physiology, and metabolic pathways of developing organs. This concept, central to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm, posits that prenatal conditions establish a “program” that influences susceptibility to chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hormonal dysfunction later in life. The maternal gestational environment acts as a potent, non-genetic determinant of long-term health and longevity.