Drinking Milk Before Bed Makes Children Grow Taller? Doctor Reveals Refined Sugar is the Key
Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Wang Luting points out that the key to children's growth is lifestyle habits, not drinking milk before bed; excessive intake of refined sugars is the main cause of inhibiting growth hormone secretion. She advises parents to maintain a balanced diet and regular routines.
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- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 12:29
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Dr. Wang Luting, a pediatric endocrinologist at a private clinic, stated in a press release that research in the international journal "Cells" shows about 70% of growth hormone is secreted at night, meaning a significant portion of growth is completed during sleep. Growth hormone is not secreted continuously and steadily; it peaks at specific times, most concentrated in the first phase of deep sleep, typically occurring 30 to 90 minutes after falling asleep.
Ensuring children can maintain a relaxed state and enter deep sleep smoothly before bed is crucial for seizing the golden period of growth. Wang Luting explained that the real issue is not whether to drink milk, but rather to avoid excessive intake of refined sugars. Refined sugars like sucrose and fructose can cause rapid blood sugar spikes; therefore, consuming too much flavored milk, sugary drinks, desserts, or refined carbohydrate snacks can suppress growth hormone secretion for two to three hours.
In contrast, the natural lactose in milk is considered a "non-free sugar" and contains various bioactive nutrients. Wang Luting pointed out that moderate intake can promote concentrations of key hormones that aid growth, and this nutritional combination allows the body to operate its growth mechanisms in a stable state.
For parents concerned about their children's pre-sleep diet, Wang Luting reminds them that the key factors influencing a child's height development are overall lifestyle habits, including balanced nutrition, regular routines, sufficient sleep, and moderate exercise, rather than a single food or specific dietary behavior at a certain time.
If milk is to be consumed, three major principles should be followed.
First, choose pure milk. If children cannot give up late-night snacks, pure milk is a relatively good choice. Avoid replacing milk with flavored milk or sugary dairy products, or eating biscuits, desserts, or high-carbohydrate snacks before bed. The drinking time can be gradually moved earlier, to one to two hours before sleep, leaving sufficient digestion time, which helps maintain stable sleep quality and nocturnal growth hormone secretion.
Second, adjust the intake amount according to needs. Wang Luting explained that children over one year old who consume about 250 to 500 ml of milk daily benefit from growth and development, but excessive intake may affect the intake of other essential nutrients.
Third, special groups need attention. Wang Luting cautions that not all children are suitable for drinking milk before bed. Children and adolescents with lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy may experience gastrointestinal discomfort from drinking milk before bed, which in turn can affect deep sleep. (Editor: Zhang Ming-kun) 1150408
Ensuring children can maintain a relaxed state and enter deep sleep smoothly before bed is crucial for seizing the golden period of growth. Wang Luting explained that the real issue is not whether to drink milk, but rather to avoid excessive intake of refined sugars. Refined sugars like sucrose and fructose can cause rapid blood sugar spikes; therefore, consuming too much flavored milk, sugary drinks, desserts, or refined carbohydrate snacks can suppress growth hormone secretion for two to three hours.
In contrast, the natural lactose in milk is considered a "non-free sugar" and contains various bioactive nutrients. Wang Luting pointed out that moderate intake can promote concentrations of key hormones that aid growth, and this nutritional combination allows the body to operate its growth mechanisms in a stable state.
For parents concerned about their children's pre-sleep diet, Wang Luting reminds them that the key factors influencing a child's height development are overall lifestyle habits, including balanced nutrition, regular routines, sufficient sleep, and moderate exercise, rather than a single food or specific dietary behavior at a certain time.
If milk is to be consumed, three major principles should be followed.
First, choose pure milk. If children cannot give up late-night snacks, pure milk is a relatively good choice. Avoid replacing milk with flavored milk or sugary dairy products, or eating biscuits, desserts, or high-carbohydrate snacks before bed. The drinking time can be gradually moved earlier, to one to two hours before sleep, leaving sufficient digestion time, which helps maintain stable sleep quality and nocturnal growth hormone secretion.
Second, adjust the intake amount according to needs. Wang Luting explained that children over one year old who consume about 250 to 500 ml of milk daily benefit from growth and development, but excessive intake may affect the intake of other essential nutrients.
Third, special groups need attention. Wang Luting cautions that not all children are suitable for drinking milk before bed. Children and adolescents with lactose intolerance or milk protein allergy may experience gastrointestinal discomfort from drinking milk before bed, which in turn can affect deep sleep. (Editor: Zhang Ming-kun) 1150408