Obesity and Sex Steroid Changes across Puberty: Evidence for Marked Hyperandrogenemia in Pre- and Early Pubertal Obese Girls
Year: 2006
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: CONTEXT: Peripubertal obesity is associated with abnormal sex steroid concentrations, but the timing of onset and degree of these abnormalities remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the degree of hyperandrogenemia across puberty in obese girls and assess overnight sex steroid changes in Tanner stage 1-3 girls. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: The study was conducted at general clinical research centers. SUBJECTS: Thirty normal-weight (body mass index for age < 85%) and 74 obese (body mass index for age >or= 95%) peripubertal girls. INTERVENTION: Blood samples (circa 0500-0700 h) were taken while fasting. Samples from the preceding evening (circa 2300 h) were obtained in 23 Tanner 1-3 girls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hormone concentrations stratified by Tanner stage were measured. RESULTS: Compared with normal-weight girls, mean free testosterone (T) was elevated 2- to 9-fold across puberty in obese girls, whereas fasting insulin was 3-fold elevated in obese Tanner 1-3 girls (P < 0.05). Mean LH was lower in obese Tanner 1 and 2 girls (P < 0.05) but not in more mature girls. In a subgroup of normal-weight Tanner 1-3 girls (n = 17), mean progesterone (P) and T increased overnight 2.3- and 2.4-fold, respectively (P <or= 0.001). In obese Tanner 1-3 girls (n = 6), evening P and T were elevated, and both tended to increase overnight [mean 1.4- and 1.6-fold, respectively (P = 0.06)]. CONCLUSIONS: Peripubertal obesity is associated with hyperandrogenemia and hyperinsulinemia throughout puberty, being especially marked shortly before and during early puberty. P and T concentrations in normal-weight Tanner 1-3 girls increase overnight, with similar but less evident changes in obese girls.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2006-2002
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: Yale University, National Institutes of Health, University of California, San Diego, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Center for Research Resources, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1129902251, General Clinical Research Center, Regulation of Pituitary Follistatin Gene Transcription, CELLULAR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS IN REPRODUCTION, G2489445609, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, G4410923037, G4455723224, Progesterone Modulation of Pulsatile GnRH Secretion, General Clinical Research Center, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, Clinical and Basic Studies in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, G7759219037, General Clinical Research Center, General Clinical Research Center, G9000192603, Research Training in Neuroendocrinology and Metabolism, Training in Reproductive Sciences, Study to Investigate the Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth
OpenAlex ID: W2078094750