title: Anthropometric Measurements, Serum Reproductive Hormonal Levels and Sexual Development among Boys in the Rural Western Cape, South Africa.
abstract: Data on growth and sexual maturation among boys from the rural Western Cape in South Africa is limited. A cross-sectional study of 269 school boys was conducted testing for serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and estradiol (E2); height, weight and body mass index (BMI); sexual maturity (using Tanner Stages) and a questionnaire (demographic and medical history). The median age at pubertal onset (Tanner Stage 2) and Tanner Stage 5 was 11.6 and 14.7 years, respectively. The median testicular volume was 5.5 mL at Tanner Stage 2 increasing from 2.5 mL at Tanner Stage 1 to 14.7 mL at Tanner Stage 5. Height and weight measurements were <25th &amp; 50th percentile references at Tanner Stages 1-3. Controlling for confounders, serum FSH and LH increased (p< 0.05) from Tanner Stage 1 to 4 (by 4.1 and 3 mL respectively), and serum testosterone and estradiol increased after Tanner Stage 2 (by 12.7 nmol/L and 59.5 pmol/L respectively). These results indicate some delays in pubertal development of boys in the rural Western Cape when compared to boys from other settings possibly due to nutritional, socio-economic and environmental exposures. Changes in serum hormone levels were consistent with other populations. Initiatives to improve nutrition amongst Western Cape rural communities are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7729, South Africa. maojunme@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7729, South Africa. aqiel.dalvie@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Mohamed Aqiel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dalvie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: boys; growth; reproductive hormones; rural; sexual development