Physiological changes of adrenal androgens in childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the change in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstenedione concentrations during childhood and to clarify the relationship between adrenarche and gonadarche.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 577 healthy children (297 boys and 280 girls), with ages ranging from 5 days to 12 years was conducted. After complete physical examination and recording of any sign of puberty, blood samples were drawn for the determination of serum DHEAS and androstenedione concentrations. For comparison, blood samples were also drawn from 39 normal adults, 23 men and 16 women.


RESULTS
In both genders, the DHEAS and androstenedione levels at birth were 3.0 +/- 1.3 mumol/L and 4.1 +/- 2.3 nmol/L, respectively. They fell rapidly within 6 months, and were maintained at a low level until 6 years of age. After the age of 6, the levels of both adrenal androgens were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Adrenarche occurred at the age of 7.7 +/- 1.1 years in boys and at the age of 7.7 +/- 1.0 years in girls. Gonadarche occurred at the age of 11.2 +/- 0.8 years in boys (n = 33) and at the age of 10.3 +/- 0.8 years in girls (n = 46). The onset of adrenarche occurred about 2 to 3 years earlier than the onset of puberty (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of adrenal androgens change dramatically during childhood. Serum concentration of DHEAS is a good marker for adrenal androgens production because gonadal androgens may interfere with serum concentration of androstenedione. For Taiwanese children, the onset of adrenarche occurred between the ages of 6 and 8 years, which was 2 to 3 years earlier than the onset of puberty.
Tung
Yi-Ching
YC
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Jing-Sheng
JS
Tsai
Wen-Yu
WY
Hsiao
Pei-Hung
PH
D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty
D015415:Biomarkers; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate