Trade-off between maternal overnutrition and placental adaptation
Maternal overnutrition constitutes an ancient and underappreciated selective pressure on the placenta.
Fetal hyperinsulinemia creates, then adaptively resolves, a metabolically induced oxygen deficit.
Placental insulin receptor signaling mediates convergent maternal–fetal interests under maternal overnutrition.
Brain insulin-insensitivity redirects excess fetal mass from the head toward compressible adipose tissue.
Feto-placental adaptations to overnutrition involve trade-offs linking stillbirth prevention to risks of preterm birth, excess adiposity, and intergenerational metabolic disease.
https://www.cell.com/trends/endocrinology-metabolism/fulltext/S1043-2760(26)00276-6
