Nutrition and growth in children

Minerva Pediatr. 2020 Dec;72(6):462-471. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4946.20.05981-2. Epub 2020 Jul 29.

Abstract

The well-balanced nourishment during "the first 1000 days," the period between conception (day 18) and the age of two years, is quite important for two main reasons. Firstly, the nutritive requirement is high due to the rapid physiological growth and functional development. Then, this period is characterized by extreme susceptibility to external stimuli such as inadequate maternal and infant nutritional status which they can interfere with the different stages of the development process leading to short and long-term consequences for health. Linear growth and brain development are particularly impaired from not sufficient nutrition. In consideration of the irreversible damage of malnutrition, especially on developing brain, an adequate nutrition during the first 1000 days of life is paramount. The aim of this review was to overview the latest scientific evidences on the relationship between nutrition and growth, focusing on nutritional requirements during the first 1000 days, and the impact of inadequate nutrition on brain development and linear growth.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Brain / growth & development*
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fetal Development / physiology
  • Glucocorticoids / blood
  • Growth / physiology*
  • Growth Hormone / physiology
  • Hormones
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena* / physiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / physiology
  • Malnutrition / complications
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Micronutrients / administration & dosage
  • Nutrients / administration & dosage
  • Nutritional Requirements*
  • Nutritional Status

Substances

  • Dietary Proteins
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hormones
  • IGF1 protein, human
  • Micronutrients
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Growth Hormone