Prepubertal Glucocorticoid Status and Pubertal Timing

Context: Whether prepubertal glucocorticoid status impacts on the timing of puberty is not clear. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between prepubertal glucocorticoid status and early or late pubertal markers, independent of adrenarchal and nutritional status. Design and Participants: Prospective cohort study of healthy Caucasian children (n = 111, 56 boys) who provided both 24-h urine samples and weighed dietary records 1 and 2 yr before the start of pubertal growth spurt [age at take-off (ATO)]. Measurements: Major urinary glucocorticoid and androgen metabolites determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis were summed to assess daily overall cortisol (ΣC21) and adrenal androgen secretion; urinary free cortisol and cortisone measured by RIA were summed (UFF+UFE) as an indicator of potentially bioactive free glucocorticoids. Main Outcomes: The main outcomes included ATO, age at peak height velocity, age at menarche/voice break, ages at Tanner stage 2 for breast (girls) and genital (boys) development, and pubic hair. Results: In girls ΣC21, but not UFF+UFE, was associated with pubertal markers after adjusting for overall adrenal androgen, urinary nitrogen, and body fat. Girls with higher ΣC21 (fourth quartile) reached ATO 0.7 yr (P = 0.01) and menarche 0.9 yr later (P = 0.006) than girls with lower ΣC21 (first quartile). The ΣC21 tended to be also positively associated with age at Tanner stage 2 for breast (P = 0.1), Tanner stage 2 for pubic hair (P = 0.1), and age at peak height velocity (P = 0.06). In boys, neither the ΣC21 nor UFF+UFE was related to pubertal timing. Conclusion: An individually higher prepubertal glucocorticoid secretion level, even in physiological range, appears to delay early and late pubertal timing of healthy girls, particularly their onset of pubertal growth spurt and menarche.

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Prepubertal urinary estrogen excretion and its relationship with pubertal timing

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00374.2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 299 (6) ◽

pp. E990-E997 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Lijie Shi ◽

Thomas Remer ◽

Anette E. Buyken ◽

Michaela F. Hartmann ◽

Philipp Hoffmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pubertal Timing ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Breast Development ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Age At Menarche ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Pubertal Growth Spurt ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Pubertal Growth ◽

Estrogen Production

Whether prepubertal estrogen production impacts on the timing of puberty is not clear. We aimed to investigate prepubertal 24-h estrogen excretion levels and their association with early and late pubertal markers. Daily urinary excretion rates of estrogens of 132 healthy children, who provided 24-h urine samples 1 and 2 yr before the start of the pubertal growth spurt [age at takeoff (ATO)], were quantified by stable isotope dilution/GC-MS. E-sum3 (estrone + estradiol + estriol) was used as a marker for potentially bioactive estrogen metabolites and E-sum5 (E-sum3 + 16-epiestriol + 16-ketoestradiol) for total estrogen production. Pubertal outcomes were ATO, age at peak height velocity (APHV), duration of pubertal growth acceleration (APHV-ATO), age at Tanner stage 2 for pubic hair (PH2), genital (G2, boys) and breast (B2, girls) development, and age at menarche. Prepubertal urinary estrogen excretions (E-sum3 and E-sum5) were not associated with ATO, APHV, and age at PH2 but with duration of pubertal growth acceleration ( P < 0.01) in both sexes. Girls with higher E-sum3 reached B2 0.9 yr ( P = 0.04) and menarche 0.3 yr earlier ( P = 0.04) than girls with lower E-sum3. E-sum3 was not associated with age at G2 in boys ( P = 0.6). For most pubertal variables, the associations with E-sum3 were stronger than with E-sum5. In conclusion, prepubertal estrogens may not be critical for the onset of the pubertal growth spurt but are correlated with its duration in both boys and girls. Prepubertal estrogen levels may already predict the timing of girls' menstruation and breast development but do not appear to affect sexual maturation in boys.

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Prediction of the Timing of the Adolescent Growth Spurt from Ossification Events in Hand—Wrist Films

British Journal of Orthodontics ◽

10.1179/bjo.6.3.145 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 145-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

W. J. B. Houston ◽

J. C. Miller ◽

J. M. Tanner

Keyword(s):

Orthodontic Treatment ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Pubertal Growth Spurt ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Pubertal Growth ◽

Insufficient Attention ◽

Adolescent Growth Spurt

The prediction of the timing of the pubertal growth spurt could be helpful in planning some types of orthodontic treatment. It has been suggested that information from hand—wrist radiographs could be used for this purpose. Insufficient attention has been paid to the distinction between ossification events and bone stages. In the present paper it is shown that the uncertainty of prediction of the timing of the peak height Velocity from ossification events in the hand and wrist, is generally large and so they are of limited value for this purpose.

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Estimation of Pubertal Growth Spurt Parameters in Children and Adolescents Living at Moderate Altitude in Colombia

Frontiers in Endocrinology ◽

10.3389/fendo.2021.718292 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Antonio Cossio-Bolaños ◽

Ruben Vidal-Espinoza ◽

Juan Minango-Negrete ◽

Pedro R. Olivares ◽

Luis Urzua-Alul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Final Height ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Moderate Altitude ◽

Biological Parameters ◽

Pubertal Growth Spurt ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Pubertal Growth

ObjectiveKnowledge of the biological parameters of pubertal growth spurt allows verification of secular changes and exploration of the timing of puberty. The aim of the study was to estimate final height, age at peak height velocity (APHV), and peak height velocity PHV (cm/y) in children and adolescents living at moderate altitude in Colombia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was designed in 2.295 schoolchildren from Bogotá (Colombia) with an age range from 5.0 to 18.9 years. Height (cm) was assessed. Preece–Baines model 1 (1PB) was used to make inferences about mathematical and biological parameters.ResultsThe five mathematical parameters estimated in general have reflected quality in the fit to the model, reflecting a small residual error. Final height was reached in boys at 170.8 ± 0.4 cm and in girls at 157.9 ± 0.2 cm. APHV was estimated at 12.71 ± 0.1 years in boys and 10.4 ± 0.2 years in girls. Girls reached APHV 2.2 years earlier than boys. In relation to PHV (cm/y), boys reached higher growth speed in height (7.4 ± 0.4 cm/y), and in girls it was (7.0 ± 0.2 cm/y).ConclusionIt was determined that final height was reached at 170.8 ± 0.4 cm in boys and 157.9 ± 0.2 cm in girls, and APHV (years) and PHV (cm/ye) were reached relatively early and with average peak velocity similar to Asian and Western populations. A large-scale longitudinal study is needed to confirm these findings.

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Somatomedin A in male puberty. Variation with age, maturity, growth and androgens

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1070312 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

pp. 312-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Søren Krabbe ◽

Knud William Kastrup ◽

Lotte Hummer

Keyword(s):

Growth And Development ◽

Peak Height ◽

Pubic Hair ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Pubertal Growth ◽

The Mean ◽

Hair Development ◽

Mean Trend

Abstract. Bioassayable somatomedin-A (SM-A) and serum concentrations of testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were determined longitudinally in 26 normal boys during puberty. The mean trend of SM-A increased in relation to age, pubic hair development and peak height velocity (PHV) and significant correlations were observed with testicular volume, height velocity and T (all P < 0.001) but not with DHEA. In relation to growth SM-A increased mainly during 12 to 6 months prior to PHV but no further increase was seen in the 6 months thereafter. Thus pubertal growth and development have to be taken into account in the evaluation of changes in bioassayable SM-A concentrations in boys.

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Longitudinal study of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) in relation to spermarche, pubic hair, height and sitting height in normal boys

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.112s098 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 113 (4_Suppl) ◽

pp. S98-S106 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

C. THØGER NIELSEN ◽

N.E. SKAKKEBÆK ◽

JANET A.B. DARLING ◽

W.M. HUNTER ◽

D.W. RICHARDSON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Tanner Stage ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Peak Height ◽

Pubic Hair ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Promoting Effect ◽

Sitting Height ◽

Low Levels

Abstract. In a 7-year longitudinal study of 40 normal boys, initially aged 8.6-11.7 years, 24-h urine samples were collected every 3 months and analysed for LH and testosterone as well as for the presence of spermatozoa (spermaturia). Spermarche (onset of the release of spermatozoa) was estimated on the basis of age at the first observed spermaturia. Physical examination, including measurements of height and sitting height and staging of pubic hair (Tanner stage) was performed every 6 months. Spermarche occurred early in puberty when the median pubic hair stage was 2.5. Urinary testosterone did not reach maximum levels until approximately 2 years after spermarche. Peak height velocity occurred when urinary testosterone levels were low, 1-2 years before adult levels of testosterone were attained. Our results support the proposition that low levels of testosterone have a predominantly growth-promoting effect, whilst higher concentrations have an inhibitory effect on height spurt.

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Using SITAR (SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation) to estimate age at peak height velocity in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14708.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 90 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Monika Frysz ◽

Laura D. Howe ◽

Jonathan H. Tobias ◽

Lavinia Paternoster

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Parents And Children ◽

The Impact ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Puberty is a time of substantial biological and psychological changes. One of the hallmarks of puberty is a rapid growth spurt, however its timing varies between individuals. The impact of pubertal timing on later health outcomes has been of interest in life course epidemiology, however its measurement can be challenging. Age at peak height velocity (aPHV) offers an objective measure of pubertal timing without having to rely on physical examination or self-report. We describe the derivation of aPHV estimates in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) offspring, using Superimposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) mixed effects growth curve analysis. ALSPAC is a rich source of phenotypic and genotypic data and given the importance of pubertal timing for later health outcomes, these data offer an opportunity to explore the determinants and consequences of aPHV.

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Using SITAR (SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation) to estimate age at peak height velocity in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14708.2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 90 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Monika Frysz ◽

Laura D. Howe ◽

Jonathan H. Tobias ◽

Lavinia Paternoster

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Parents And Children ◽

The Impact ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

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Revisiting the critical weight hypothesis for regulation of pubertal timing in boys

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqaa304 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (1) ◽

pp. 123-128

Author(s):

Maria Bygdell ◽

Jenny M Kindblom ◽

John-Olov Jansson ◽

Claes Ohlsson

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Objective Measure ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Critical Weight ◽

Weight Sensing ◽

Recent Cohort

ABSTRACT Background Recent findings indicate that there is a body weight–sensing homeostatic regulation of body weight in postpubertal rodents and humans. It is possible that body weight sensing also might be involved in the regulation of pubertal timing. Although an early small study suggested that there is a critical body weight for pubertal timing in girls, most studies have focused on BMI and reported an inverse association between BMI and pubertal timing. Objectives In the present longitudinal well-powered cohort study, we revisited the critical weight hypothesis and tested if prepubertal body weight is a more robust inverse predictor of pubertal timing than prepubertal BMI in boys. Method We included men born during 1945–1961 (old cohort; n = 31,971) and men born during 1981–1996 (recent cohort; n = 1465) in the large BMI Epidemiology Study (BEST) Gothenburg (combined BEST cohort n = 33,436). Men with information on prepubertal body weight and BMI at 8 y of age and age at peak height velocity (PHV; an objective measure of pubertal timing) were included. Results Body weight explained more of the variance in age at PHV than BMI in both the old cohort and the recent cohort (combined cohort, body weight 6.3%, BMI 3.6%). Both body weight (β: −0.24 SD/SD increase in weight; 95% CI: −0.25, −0.23) and BMI (β: −0.18 SD/SD increase in BMI, 95% CI: −0.19, −0.17) were inversely associated with age at PHV but the association for body weight was significantly more pronounced than the association for BMI (P < 0.001). Conclusions In conclusion, prepubertal body weight is a more robust inverse predictor of pubertal timing than prepubertal BMI in boys. We propose that body weight sensing constitutes a feedback mechanism to regulate pubertal timing.

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Growth and Normal Puberty

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.102.s3.507 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 102 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 507-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Val Abbassi

Keyword(s):

Adult Height ◽

Average Rate ◽

Final Height ◽

Peak Height ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Pubertal Stage ◽

Pubertal Growth ◽

Velocity Peak ◽

The Mean

We reviewed the growth characteristics of American boys and girls from published studies, including age at takeoff, age at peak height velocity, peak height velocity, duration of puberty, and the magnitude of the pubertal contribution to adult height. Age at takeoff is highly variable and sex-dependent. The mean takeoff age in children growing at an average rate is ∼11 years in boys and 9 years in girls, and peak height velocity occurs at a mean age of 13.5 years and 11.5 years, respectively, in these children. Whole-year peak height velocity is 9.5 cm/y in boys and 8.3 cm/y in girls, with slight variations in the different studies. The contribution of pubertal growth to final height is ∼30 to 31 cm in boys, accounting for 17% to 18% of the final height, and 27.5 to 29 cm in girls, accounting for 17% of the final height. The magnitude of pubertal growth has a negative correlation with age at takeoff, but no correlation with final height. Age at takeoff, however, correlates highly with pubertal stage, but correlates negatively with duration of puberty.

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Precocious Puberty: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management

Pediatrics in Review ◽

10.1542/pir.14.9.336 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 336-367

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Transitional Stage ◽

Pubertal Growth Spurt ◽

Adrenal Androgen ◽

Secondary Sexual Characteristics ◽

Pubertal Growth ◽

Sexual Characteristics ◽

Physical Changes

Puberty is a transitional stage associated with many changes, both physical and emotional. The endocrinologic changes, consisting of two processes, gonadarche and adrenarche, result in the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the pubertal growth spurt. Gonadarche, the maturation of the gonads, is initiated by the episodic pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. Adrenarche refers to the increase in adrenal androgen secretion (the mechanism responsible for this is unknown). Both of these processes cause an increase in sex steroid secretion, which results in the physical changes of puberty. In the United States, normal puberty occurs between 8 to 13 years in girls and 9 to 14 years in boys.

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