Diet and sex hormones in boys: findings from the dietary intervention study in children.
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.
Dorgan
Joanne F
JF
Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. joanne.dorgan@fccc.edu
McMahon
Robert P
RP
Friedman
Lisa Aronson
LA
Van Horn
Linda
L
Snetselaar
Linda G
LG
Kwiterovich
Peter O
PO
Lauer
Ronald M
RM
Lasser
Norman L
NL
Stevens
Victor J
VJ
Robson
Alan
A
Cooper
Susan F
SF
Chandler
D Walt
DW
Franklin
Frank A
FA
Barton
Bruce A
BA
Patterson
Blossom H
BH
Taylor
Philip R
PR
Schatzkin
Arthur
A
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
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol