GROWTH, SOMATOMEDIN AND NUTRITION - A REV IEW

The skeletal growth-promoting action of growth hormone appear to be me diated by circulating somatomedins or insulin-like growth factor(s) (I GF), which act directly to promote the proliferation of growing cartil age. The actions of IGF(s) include also insulin-like activity in extra skeletal tissues and mitogenic activity. Serum concentrations of IGF(s ) were found to be dependent on hormonal levels and nutritional status and are reduced by malnutrition or dietary restrictions. The actions of somatomedins may be modulated at the tissue level by somatomedins i nhibitor, factor that may act to limit growth in conditions of hormona l and/or nutrition deficiency. Plasma concentration of somatomedins ar e a good marker of acute directional change in nitrogen balance and di etary energy and protein appears to be particulary important for both generation of somatomedins, and their action on growing cartilage. Mea surement of somatomedin concentration shows promise as a means for mon itoring the response of malnourished children and rats to nutrition re pletion.