The initial period of life is critical for an organism in development and any harm in this period can lead to significant and permanent epigenetic and/or molecular changes. Such changes may predispose an organism to metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, reproductive dysfunction, impaired growth, and cognitive changes throughout life. The period of adolescence is also a critical period for development. There are hormonal, nutritional, and environmental factors which could lead to disruptive action in these periods of life and may be responsible for future metabolic complications.

This research topic seeks to collect studies with a focus on critical periods of life and how different external influences in these periods can compromise healthy development. Disruptions in periods of life like preconception, gestation, lactation, and adolescence can effect the functionality of an organism in the long term. Many factors can increase the predisposition to endocrine-metabolic disorders during these periods. The mechanisms by which external factors affect the central regulation of energy balance and metabolism can be distinctly dependent on disruption type, intensity, gender, and specific period when disruption occurs.

There is a consensus that a disease or disorder affecting someone in adulthood can be determined by potential disruptions that occur in early periods of life (i.e. preconception, gestation, lactation and adolescence) and therefore understanding these mechanisms becomes an urgent issue.

We are accepting studies of various types, including hypothesis & theory papers, methods papers, mini reviews, original research articles and systematic reviews on the following::

- Impact of denutrition and/or overnutrition in early life on metabolic disorders
- Interventions with drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Critical periods essential for health development
- Effects of exposure to environmental disruptor chemicals
- Effects of disruption of hormones on development
- Effects of stressor events and the resulting impacts on development

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Perinatal and Post-Natal Life: Metabolism and Health Outcomes Volume II