title: Body composition in premature adrenarche by structural MRI, 1H MRS and DXA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premature adrenarche (PA) is recognized to be a possible precursor of polycystic ovarian syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Visceral adiposity and increased intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) are associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether prepubertal girls with PA have altered visceral adiposity and/or increased muscle lipid content compared to prepubertal girls without PA using proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (1H MRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, MRI of the trunk, and MRS of the tibialis anterior muscle in the right calf on six girls with PA and eight prepubertal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and VAT to SAT ratio did not differ significantly between the PA and control girls. Those with PA, however, had significantly greater IMCL than controls (p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study adds further evidence that PA is not a benign condition, and future studies investigating early intervention with dietary and exercise counseling may help diminish potential risk for diabetes mellitus and/or cardiovascular disease.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Leibel
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Shen
authors: Xiangling
authors: X
authors: Mao
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Punyanitya
authors: Dympna
authors: D
authors: Gallagher
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Horlick
authors: Dikoma C
authors: DC
authors: Shungu
authors: Sharon E
authors: SE
authors: Oberfield
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050499:Adrenarche / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000473:pathology