Thomas T. Samaras, "Reventropy Associates"

“ In nonagenarians, a lower activity of the insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) signaling (IIS) pathway is significantly associated with lower body height and improved old age survival.”

“We found a highly significant inverse relation between height and replicative life span in humans of the same chronological age (– .35m p =  .007).” p. 43

Source: Maier et al. Relation Between Body Height and Replicative Capacity of Human Fibroblasts in Nonagenarians. Journal of Gerontology, 2008, 63A, 43-45.

“......but across every species and now it appears to be in man as well, shorter stature is an advantage.”

Source: Eric Topol & Sarah Topol, Scripps Institute. Genomic Medicine, San Diego, Ca.

“A trend towards taller and heavier individuals appears as societies adopt modern lifestyles. This trend is not always beneficial because high birth weight, rapid growth, and high energy intake may be associated with development of cancer, diabetes, hypertension and stroke.” p. 537

“Lower energy intake, slower childhood growth rates, and shorter stature .....might improve health at later stages of adult development.” p. 538

Source: E Marini, AL Maldonado-Contreras, et al. Helicobacter Pylori and Intestinal Parasites are not Detrimental to the Nutritional Status of Armedians. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007, 76, 534-540

“These findings support an adverse effect of relative “overnutriton” in infancy on long-term cardiovascular disease risk......and do not support the promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age.”

Source: Singhal et al. Promotion of faster weight gain in infants born small for gestational age: is there an adverse effect on later blood pressure? Circulation 2007, 115, 213-20.

“......recently showed that rapidly growing individuals (lizards, trees, and fish respectively) experienced lower long-term survival than slower growing conspecifics.” (p.E156)

Source: Mangel & Munch.A life-history perspective on short- and long-term consequences of compensatory growth. The American Naturalist 2005, 166, E156-176.