A recent study reveals how changes in lifestyle during early life can lead to lasting benefits. Specifically, interventions involving diet and physical activity during childhood and adolescence have shown to significantly impact metabolism many years later.
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) reveals how changes in lifestyle during early life can lead to lasting benefits. Specifically, interventions involving diet and physical activity during childhood and adolescence have shown to significantly impact metabolism many years later.
The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study is the first of its kind to utilize advanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics technology to explore how lifestyle changes affect health from childhood through adolescence. By examining blood samples, researchers discovered changes in 80 different metabolites. “These metabolites are associated with vital processes that contribute to the development of cardiometabolic diseases, such as lipid metabolism, inflammation, and gut health,” explains Postdoctoral Researcher Iman Zarei.
The significance of these findings lies in the fact that 17 of these metabolites remained altered even after eight years, despite the most intense part of the lifestyle intervention being confined to just the first two years. This indicates that early interventions can provide immediate as well as enduring health benefits. Among the most significant alterations were observed in fatty amides, which play various physiological roles including inflammation, weight regulation, eating behavior, sleep, pain and anxiety management, blood vessel formation, arterial relaxation, and neuroprotection. These changes could lower the risk of several chronic illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and heart diseases.
“Our research offers strong evidence that early and continuous lifestyle modifications can greatly influence a child’s health trajectory,” states Professor Timo Lakka, the study’s lead researcher. He underscores the need to promote healthy habits from a young age, as these changes can help thwart chronic diseases that often begin in childhood or even during fetal development.
This study is among the first to illustrate how beneficial dietary and physical activity changes during childhood can influence metabolism in the long term. The results were published in the journal iScience.
The PANIC study is part of the Metabolic Diseases Research Community at UEF, which is committed to investigating major cardiometabolic diseases. Utilizing genetics, genomics, translational research, and lifestyle interventions, this community aims to provide strong insights into disease mechanisms and enhance early diagnosis, prevention, and customized treatment. The research community includes 20 research groups, covering everything from basic research to patient care.
Website: https://www.uef.fi/en/research-community/metabolic-diseases
