title: Diet and sex hormones in boys: findings from the dietary intervention study in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet reportedly alters serum sex hormone concentrations in adults, but little is known about the influence of diet during puberty on these hormones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine whether an intervention to lower fat intake during adolescence alters serum sex hormone concentrations and progression through puberty.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1990-1997, we conducted an ancillary study to the Dietary Intervention Study in Children, a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of a cholesterol-lowering dietary intervention in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy, prepubertal, 8 to 10 yr olds with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were randomized to usual care or a behavioral intervention. Of 362 randomized Dietary Intervention Study in Children boys, 354 participated in the ancillary study. Eighty-four percent of boys attended last visits when their median time on trial was 7.1 yr.
  
  
  METHODS
  The behavioral intervention continued throughout the duration of the trial and promoted a diet with 28% energy from total fat, less than 8% from saturated fat, 9% or less from polyunsaturated fat, and less than 75 mg cholesterol per 1000 kcal.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main outcome measure for boys formulated before study initiation was non-SHBG bound testosterone concentration. Secondary outcomes included serum total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, estrone, SHBG, and Tanner stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant treatment group differences in boys' serum hormone levels, SHBG, or Tanner stages at any individual visit or over the course of the trial when evaluated by longitudinal models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modest reductions in total fat, saturated fat, and possibly energy intake do not alter progression through puberty or serum sex hormone concentrations in adolescent boys.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. joanne.dorgan@fccc.edu
authors.forename: Joanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dorgan
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Lisa Aronson
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Horn
authors.forename: Linda G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Snetselaar
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Kwiterovich
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Norman L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lasser
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: Susan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: D Walt
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Blossom H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schatzkin
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol