Nutrition and growth

Introduction 72 The influence of nutrients on growth 72 The influence of nutrients on the somatotroph axis: Studiesin humans 75 Mechanisms involved in the nutritional control of thesomatotroph axis: Experimental studies 77Nutrition and inflammatory states 81 Conclusions 82 References 83Growth is a complex process, driven and controlled by many hormonal and metabolic interactions. The somatotroph axis plays a central role in this process (Fig. 5.1) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-I) and its binding proteins (Fig. 5.2) modulate the many peripheral hormone and metabolic signals to promote linear growth.1