Sex differences in early-life programming of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in humans suggest increased vulnerability in females: a systematic review

• Published in: Journal of developmental origins of health and disease Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 244 - 255
• Main Authors: Carpenter, T., Grecian, S. M., Reynolds, R. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cambridge University Press 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Age; Asthma; Birth weight; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Disease; DNA methylation; Female; Females; Gender differences; Hormones; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Male; Males; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Placenta; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Questionnaires; Stress, Physiological; Studies; Systematic review; Young adults; United Kingdom > UK; Australia; United States > US; Philippines; human; HPA axis; sex differences

Fetal glucocorticoid overexposure is a key mechanism linking early development with later-life disease. In humans, low birth weight associates with increased fasting cortisol, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity, and with cardiovascular risk and cognitive decline. As there are sex d...