CRC Press The Biology of the First 1,000 Days (Oxidative Stress and Disease)

The first 1,000 days, from conception to two years of age, is a critical period of growth and development. Exposures to dietary, environmental, hormonal, and other stressors during this window have been associated with an increased risk of poor health outcomes, some of which are irreversible. The book addresses this crucial interval of early life across biological disciplines, linking concepts related to all biological fields to outcomes during the first 1,000 days (e.g. fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes) and beyond (e.g. gut microbiome and cardiovascular disease later in life). The strength of this book lies in its cross-disciplinary nature. Review "The Biology of the First 1000 Days compiles the substance behind what we know to be the key to progress. Investing in good nutrition during a child’s first 1000 days is essential for not only unlocking a child’s physical and mental development. It is the way forward for improved health, productivity, income and a sustainable future – with no one left behind. This book compiles our experience, and showcases it for policy makers, strategists and programmers. I hope the knowledge captured in these pages plays an important role in achieving the ultimate goal – an end to malnutrition, in all its forms." Gerda Verburg, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Coordinator and UN Assistant Secretary General   "The book is a comprehensive and synthetic review of key spatial factors ranging from preconception to age two― it is a critical reference and will shape public policy and improve interventions for mother and child – impacts that will last a lifetime." Emorn Udomkesmalee, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand   "Nutrition policy accepted that the first 1,000 days are critical for life. Now knowledge about the biology of that critical window – so important for specific policy actions - is provided by this volume. It is essential reading for the nutrition community. The list of contributors reads like a Who is Who in nutrition research." Prof. Joachim von Braun, Bonn University, Vice Chair of the Board of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)   "In The Biology of the First 1,000 Days we find, clearly and profoundly, the scientific evidence of how good nutrition truly shapes the future of our world – a most valuable contribution to our understanding of a long-neglected issue." Roger Thurow, author of The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children – And the World About the Author Crystal D. Karakochuk, PhD, RD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Health at the University of British Columbia, and an investigator in Healthy Starts at BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has worked internationally as a nutritionist for the United Nations World Food Programme (Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Rome) and UNICEF (New York and Timor-Leste). Her research focuses on anemia, nutritional biomarkers (namely, iron and zinc), the effect of inflammation on nutritional biomarkers, and genetic hemo-globinopathies and blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell). Kyly  C.  Whitfield,  PhD,  is  an  assistant  professor  in  the  Department  of  Applied  Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her  research  focuses  on  identifying  culturally  appropriate  public  health  interven-tions  to  combat  micronutrient  deficiencies  in  low-resource  settings,  particularly  among  lactating  mothers  and  their  infants.  Her  current  work  explores  fortification  to address thiamin deficiency among breastfed infants in Southeast Asia. She is also interested in exploring the long-term effects of infant feeding behaviors on disease risk later in life. Tim J. Green, PhD, is a principal nutritionist in the Healthy Mothers, Babies, and Children Theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, and an affiliate professor in the Discipline o