Exposure to Different Intrauterine Environments: Implications for Telomere Attrition in Early Life

Studies focusing on telomere attrition in newborns and what factors could be involved in this issue are sparse; most reports have been in adult populations. Thereby, the aim of this study was to present an overview of what is currently known about the relationship between environmental exposure of the fetus during pregnancy and telomere length outcomes in early life. The MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Bireme databases were searched for studies published until 1 June 2016. Studies that reported telomere length measurement from birth to age 1 year were included. Fifteen articles were selected that evaluated possible relationships between maternal smoking, hyperglycemia, hypertension, sleep apnea, psychological stress, folate concentration in early pregnancy, and radiation, in addition to small-for-gestational-age status and preterm birth. We found that sleep apnea, psychological stress, and folate concentration in early pregnancy were associated with telomere shortening in the newborn. No association was found with radiation, small-for-gestational-age status, or preterm birth. Results for maternal smoking, hyperglycemia, and hypertension were conflicting, and further studies should be considered. The actual clinical implications of these findings have yet to be investigated.