Luteinizing hormone, testosterone and inhibin B levels in the peripubertal period and racial/ethnic differences among boys aged 6-11 years: analyses from NHANES III, 1988-1994.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the initial physical findings of puberty are accompanied by hormonal evidence of pubertal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and whether racial/ethnic differences exist, we have analysed hormone levels in relation to age, onset of puberty and race/ethnicity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and inhibin B from banked sera from a representative sample of US boys aged 6·0-11·99 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.


METHODS
Eight hundred and twenty-eight boys having sera including 228 non-Hispanic white (NHW), 266 non-Hispanic black (NHB), 288 Mexican-American (MA) and 46 'other'.


METHODS
Using analysis of variance and linear regression techniques, concentrations of LH, T and inhibin B were compared by race/ethnicity for all boys and pubertal status (Tanner's Staging 1, 2 and 3+) for boys aged 8 years and older. Receiver operating curves were utilized to identify cut-points predictive of pubertal HPG status.


RESULTS
Mean hormones levels progressively increased with age. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicate hormones are consistent with pubertal onset as indicated by Tanner stage 2, except for T and genital stage 2. Inhibin B and LH levels increased significantly by genital stage after adjusting for age and race/ethnicity, while LH and T concentrations increased significantly across pubic hair stages. Levels of inhibin B were significantly higher for NHB boys compared with other racial/ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In these cross-sectional findings, hormone levels rise gradually as boys approach the peripubertal age, whereas an abrupt rise was not associated with the onset of physical changes of puberty.
Lee
Peter A
PA
Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. plee@psu.edu
Gollenberg
Audra L
AL
Hediger
Mary L
ML
Himes
John H
JH
Zhang
Zhiwei
Z
Louis
Germaine M Buck
GM
D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People
C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Mar;152(3):403-9
15757857
Clin Chem. 2001 Jan;47(1):139-42
11148194
Steroids. 2004 Oct-Nov;69(11-12):721-6
15579324
Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Dec;151(6):747-57
15588242
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Feb;164(2):139-44
20124142
Pediatrics. 2009 Jun;123(6):e1059-63
19482738
Biometrics. 2002 Sep;58(3):657-64
12230001
Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121 Suppl 3:S172-91
18245511
J Immunol Methods. 2008 Jan 1;329(1-2):102-11
17991484
Biostatistics. 2003 Oct;4(4):523-38
14557109
Metabolism. 2005 Jan;54(1):91-6
15562386
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2002 Feb;56(2):215-21
11874413
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001 Sep;155(9):1022-8
11529804
J Pediatr. 1995 Jul;127(1):100-2
7608791
Menopause. 1999 Spring;6(1):29-35
10100177
Int J Androl. 2006 Feb;29(1):241-6; discussion 286-90
16466545
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Feb;164(2):166-73
20124146
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992 Aug;75(2):624-31
1639961
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Jan;84(1):29-37
9920058
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jan;95(1):263-70
19926714
Ann Hum Biol. 1993 Nov-Dec;20(6):583-93
8257084
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Dec;82(12):3976-81
9398699
J Adolesc Health. 2002 Mar;30(3):205-12
11869928
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1989 Nov;31(5):551-64
2516786
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb;82(2):541-9
9024251
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Feb;89(2):867-74
14764807