Gut microbiota in regulation of childhood bone growth.

Childhood stunting and wasting, or decreased linear and ponderal growth associated with undernutrition, continue to be a major global public health challenge. Although many of the current therapeutic and dietary interventions have significantly reduced childhood mortality caused by undernutrition, there remain great inefficacies in improving childhood stunting. Longitudinal bone growth in children is governed by different genetic, nutritional and other environmental factors acting systemically on the endocrine system and locally at the growth plate. Recent studies have shown that this intricate interplay between nutritional and hormonal regulation of the growth plate could involve the gut microbiota, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach in tackling childhood undernutrition. In this review, I focus on the mechanistic insights provided by these recent advances in gut microbiota research and discuss ongoing development of microbiota‐based therapeutics in humans, which could be the missing link in solving undernutrition and childhood stunting. What is the topic of this review?This review is about the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota regulates bone growth.What advances does it highlight?There is in vivo evidence for regulation of the gut microbiota on the growth hormone–insulin‐like growth factor I axis. An association exists between gut microbiota immaturity and undernutrition. Clinical trials of microbiota‐based therapeutics are underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]