Differential Effects of Whey and Soy on Inflammation-induced Growth Attenuation in Young Rats

The incidence of inflammatory diseases, such as IBD in children is rapidly rising. Growth attenuation commonly occurs in IBD and treatment options are limited. Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy is not a feasible option due to GH resistance mediated by pro inflammatory cytokines. Based on our previous studies we set out to study the effect of nutrition on growth under inflammatory conditions.

Rats were treated with daily LPS injections, until an effect on the EGP was achieved. Subsequently animals were fed normal chow (NC) or diets containing whey or soy as the sole protein source either during LPS injections or after their termination (recovery model). Body and spleen weight, food consumption, humerus length and EGP height were measured.

Food consumption was similar between the groups, in all models. However, body weight in the LPS treated rats was 10% lower compared to untreated controls. Whey and Soy diets led to further reduction in weight. The weight of the spleen was significantly greater in LPS group indicating present inflammation. Unexpectedly, whey fed rats had normal weight spleens. LPS led to decrease of 11% in EGP height on NC, and this reduction was also corrected by whey but not by soy. Similarly, in the recovery model, whey fed animals showed a significantly higher EGP compared to soy fed group.

We have shown that LPS induced inflammation attenuates growth, by decreasing the EGP height and that whey based diet can correct this effect. Moreover, we show here that nutritional therapy, may mitigate inflammation.