title: Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Adolescents with Pubertal Gynecomastia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since vitamin D has an inhibitory function on ductal morphogenesis of the pubertal mammary gland, it may have a role in the development of gynecomastia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the development of pubertal gynecomastia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) levels in 50 adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia and 54 healthy controls between the ages of 11 and 17 years were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean 25D level was 14.03 ± 6.38 (5.0-32.5) ng/ml in the pubertal gynecomastia group and 15.19 ± 6.49 (5.0-33.2) ng/ml in the control group (p = 0.361). According to the vitamin D status classification of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 66% of the pubertal gynecomastia group was found to be deficient and 14% were insufficient. In the control group these values were 53.7% and 29.6%, respectively (p = 0.158).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our results we hypothesize that, rather than low serum levels of 25D, a dysregulation of the vitamin D signal pathway, vitamin D metabolism or vitamin D storage within the mammary tissue might be the contributing factors to the development of gynecomastia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melis Pehlivantürk
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kızılkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akgül
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akbıyık
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanbur
keywords: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Pubertal gynecomastia; Vitamin D deficiency