Nutrition and undernutrition in the valley of Mexico: possible transgenerational influences.

Abstract

The dietary quality of several generations of inhabitants living in the Valley of Mexico City, was examined on the light of recent information obtained from experimental undernutrition studies. Socioeconomic status and environmental limitations were also considered. This essay proposes that some transgenerational effects described in animal models, such as the diminished brain and body weight, the low cerebral DNA content, the hypermotility and some learning disabilities could have equivalents in the chronically undernourished population of the Valley of Mexico City.