What is growth spurt?
It is that time of life when rapid increase in height and weight is observed.
When does it occur?
It occurs mainly twice in a person’s life hence referred to as the 1st and the 2nd growth spurt.
1st growth spurt: Occurs from birth to 12 months of life wherein the birth weight increases up to 3 times and 50%increase in length is observed.
2nd Growth Spurt: Occurs during adolescence. Adolescence is the transitional phase of life from childhood to adulthood. A rapid increase in the velocity of height and weight, psychological and sexual maturity with cognitive development are observed among adolescents.
- Age of onset of growth spurt in Girls: around10 years
- Age of onset of growth spurt in Boys: around 12 years
Adolescence represents the last window of opportunity to gain optimal height and to prepare for a healthy adult life.
Changes occurring during adolescence:
The beginning of growth and development during adolescence is signified by the onset of puberty. Biological changes occur during puberty include:
- Sexual maturation,
- Completion of skeletal growth (marked increase in skeletal mass, changes in body composition). [i]
- 50% of adult weight and muscle mass gained
- 20% of adult height is attained
- Completion of over 80% of adolescent growth is completed in early adolescence (10–15 years)
Nutrition Requirement during Adolescence
Nutrient requirements increase during adolescence to support rapid growth. Inappropriate nutrition can create a lasting impact on the growth, development and physical fitness of an adolescent. Nutrients of significance during this period are:
- Proteins: To support increase in muscle mass and promotes the hormone Insulin like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations which aids in growth.
- Calcium: To support bone growth
- Vitamin D: To facilitate absorption of calcium in bones
- Iron: To support blood formation and improve physical performance of child.
Role of IGF-1: IGF 1 is essential for longitudinal bone growth (leading to increase in height), skeletal maturation and bone mass acquisition. Adequate levels of IGF-1 are required to for attainment of optimal peak bone mass (Locatelli V and Bianchi VE, 2014). There is a strong association between IGF-1 and body size during infancy and childhood (Rolland-Cachera, 1995).
Role of Proteins, IGF-1 during Adolescence:
It has been suggested that protein intakes below the physiological needs result in reduced growth (Hoppe 2004). Reports suggest that there is an association between protein intake, growth and IGF-I concentrations. The dietary depletion of proteins has been shown to have a marked negative effect on IGF-I concentrations in malnourished children (Smith et al, 1989). Further, the quality of protein may also have a regulatory effect on growth (Hoppe, 2004).
Taken together, adolescence is a period of rapid growth with increased nutritional requirements. Growth during this period is faster than at any other time in an individual’s life except in the first year. It offers a window of opportunity to prepare nutritionally for a healthy adult life and to cover the nutritional deficits encountered during childhood. Meeting up with the increased nutritional demand during this period helps in attainment of optimal growth.
References
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Stang J, Story M. Nutrition needs of adolescents. Guidelines for adolescent nutrition services. Minneapolis, MN: Centre for Leadership, Education and Training in Maternal and Child Nutrition Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. 2005:21-34.
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Vittorio Locatelli and Vittorio E. Bianchi, “Effect of GH/IGF-1 on Bone Metabolism and Osteoporsosis,”International Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 2014, Article ID 235060, 25 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/235060
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Jacob JA, Nair MK. Protein and micronutrient supplementation in complementing pubertal growth. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2012 Jan 1;79(1):84-91.
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Rolland-Cachera MF, Deheeger M, Akrout M, Bellisle F. Influence of macronutrients on adiposity development: a follow up study of nutrition and growth from 10 mo to 8 y of age. Int J Obes 1995;19:573-8.
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Smith IF, Taiwo O, Payne-Robinson HM. Plasma somatomedin-C in Nigerian malnourished children fed a vegetable protein rehabilitation diet. Eur J Clin Nutr 1989;43:705–13.
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Hoppe C, Udam TR, Lauritzen L, Mølgaard C, Juul A, Michaelsen KF. Animal protein intake, serum insulin-like growth factor I, and growth in healthy2.5-y-old Danish children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;80(2):447-52.