EFFECT OF BODY WEIGHT ON BONE AGE AND HORMONAL PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH PREMATURE ADRENARCHE

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate the effect of body weight on bone age (BA) and hormonal features in children with benign premature adrenarche. METHODS: We studied 221 children (175 girls, 46 boys) with premature adrenarche (pubic and/or axillary hair at 4 -androstenedione [Δ 4 -A], testosterone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor I [IGF-I], cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and BA) were recorded. The population was divided into 3 groups according to BMI: (1) normal weight, (2) overweight (BMI: 85th–95th percentile), and (3) obese (BMI: >95th percentile). Children with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia were excluded from study. RESULTS: Mean CA of adrenarche was 6.3 years (girls) and 7.1 years (boys). The percentages of overweight and obese children was significantly higher than those reported in the general population of children in Greece. Obese children had significantly more advanced BA compared with overweight and normal-weight children. Higher levels of DHEA-S and Δ 4 -A were observed in overweight and obese girls compared with normal-weight girls, whereas higher levels of DHEA-S, testosterone, and IFG-I were observed in overweight and obese boys (Table 1). No statistically significant difference was observed between the 3 groups in the levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, estradiol, cholesterol, triglycerides, or high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: A higher frequency of obesity and advanced BA was observed in children with benign premature adrenarche, with a strong correlation between BA and degree of obesity. Furthermore, obese children were characterized by higher levels of adrenal androgens compared with normal-weight children.