Body height in paediatric inflammatory bowel diseases: A structural equation model analysis

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor-1 is a key player in the process that results in impaired linear growth. Malnutrition and systemic inflammation have a restrictive action on growth by reducing circulating IGF-1. The positive relation of serum cortisol to height could correspond to suppressed pituitary-adrenal axis due to long-term use of glucocorticoids.

Pediatric‐onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Has Only a Modest Effect on Final Growth

“…We also found that a greater proportion of patients with CD were with BMI <18.5 (underweight) at early adulthood, compared with controls. The association between leaner body mass and growth impairment in patients with CD was previously reported (6,29). Whether growth impairment is the result of undernutrition or whether undernutrition and growth deficit are both the consequences of CD related inflammation during childhood deserves a discussion.…”

“…Although diminished lean mass and linear growth are both resulted by the similar catabolic effects of inflammatory cytokines (predominantly IL6 and TNF-α) (31), anorexia and undernutrition were shown to contribute to growth deficits during childhood (30). Malnutrition and systemic inflammation were shown to have a restrictive action on growth by reducing circulating IGF-1 (29). Hence, it is tempting to speculate that nutritional supplementation as a therapeutic strategy may prevent or at least mitigate growth impairment.…”