Obesity and sex steroid changes across puberty: evidence for marked hyperandrogenemia in pre- and early pubertal obese girls.
BACKGROUND
Peripubertal obesity is associated with abnormal sex steroid concentrations, but the timing of onset and degree of these abnormalities remain unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess the degree of hyperandrogenemia across puberty in obese girls and assess overnight sex steroid changes in Tanner stage 1-3 girls.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional analysis.


METHODS
The study was conducted at general clinical research centers.


METHODS
Thirty normal-weight (body mass index for age < 85%) and 74 obese (body mass index for age >or= 95%) peripubertal girls.


METHODS
Blood samples (circa 0500-0700 h) were taken while fasting. Samples from the preceding evening (circa 2300 h) were obtained in 23 Tanner 1-3 girls.


METHODS
Hormone concentrations stratified by Tanner stage were measured.


RESULTS
Compared with normal-weight girls, mean free testosterone (T) was elevated 2- to 9-fold across puberty in obese girls, whereas fasting insulin was 3-fold elevated in obese Tanner 1-3 girls (P < 0.05). Mean LH was lower in obese Tanner 1 and 2 girls (P < 0.05) but not in more mature girls. In a subgroup of normal-weight Tanner 1-3 girls (n = 17), mean progesterone (P) and T increased overnight 2.3- and 2.4-fold, respectively (P <or= 0.001). In obese Tanner 1-3 girls (n = 6), evening P and T were elevated, and both tended to increase overnight [mean 1.4- and 1.6-fold, respectively (P = 0.06)].


CONCLUSIONS
Peripubertal obesity is associated with hyperandrogenemia and hyperinsulinemia throughout puberty, being especially marked shortly before and during early puberty. P and T concentrations in normal-weight Tanner 1-3 girls increase overnight, with similar but less evident changes in obese girls.
McCartney
Christopher R
CR
Center for Research in Reproduction, Box 800391, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. cm2hq@virginia.edu
Blank
Susan K
SK
Prendergast
Kathleen A
KA
Chhabra
Sandhya
S
Eagleson
Christine A
CA
Helm
Kristin D
KD
Yoo
Richard
R
Chang
R Jeffrey
RJ
Foster
Carol M
CM
Caprio
Sonia
S
Marshall
John C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone