Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: the thrifty phenotype hypothesis

TLDR

The concept underlying the hypothesis is that poor fetal and early post‑natal nutrition imposes mechanisms of nutritional thrift on the growing individual. The authors propose the thrifty phenotype hypothesis that inadequate early nutrition impairs pancreatic development, thereby increasing long‑term risk of Type 2 diabetes. They outline research supporting the hypothesis and review relevant literature. The hypothesis reinterprets and explains previously puzzling findings.

Abstract

In this contribution we put forward a novel hypothesis concerning the aetiology of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus. The concept underlying our hypothesis is that poor foetal and early post-natal nutrition imposes mechanisms of nutritional thrift upon the growing individual. We propose that one of the major long-term consequences of inadequate early nutrition is impaired development of the endocrine pancreas and a greatly increased susceptibility to the development of Type 2 diabetes. In the first section we outline our research which has led to this hypothesis. We will then review the relevant literature. Finally we show that the hypothesis suggests a reinterpretation of some findings and an explanation of others which are at present not easy to understand.