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The highest rate of growth takes place after birth and in mammals is governed by the somatotropic axis, where growth hormone (GH) instructs the liver and peripheral tissues to produce Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to promote organ and systemic growth.
Nutrition is paramount to growth, and chronic undernutrition triggers a state of GH resistance manifested by low circulating Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leading to stunting.
Recent studies have shown that not only nutrients but also components of the gut microbiota can be critical in shaping host growth dynamics.