Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2012 Sep;17(3):169-174. 10.6065/apem.2012.17.3.169.

Growth Status and Body Composition in Children with Central Precocious Puberty and Early Puberty

• Kim HJ
• Kim YH
• Chung S

• KMID: 1434711
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2012.17.3.169

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to analyze the growth status and body composition in children with central precocious puberty (CPP ) and early puberty (EP).
METHODS
One hundred and five girls (mean age, 7.7 +/- 0.8 years) with early thelarche were included, and a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test was performed. We divided the subjects into two groups based on peak leuteinizing hormone (LH) levels; peak LH level > or = 5 mIU/L was diagnosed as CPP (n = 49), and peak LH level < 5 mIU/L was diagnosed as EP (n = 56). Patients' height, weight, and body composition were measured, and their body mass index (BMI) and Z-score were calculated. Fat mass (FF), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and percent of body fat (PBF) were compared.
RESULTS
Height, weight, and height Z-score were not significantly different between the CPP and EP groups. Weight Z-score (P = 0.045), BMI (P = 0.015), BMI Z-score (P = 0.006), PBF (P = 0.018), FM (P = 0.047), and FMI (P = 0.017) in the EP group were significantly greater than in the CPP group.
CONCLUSION
In EP girls, increased BMI was attributed to increased FMI. Body-composition analysis might be a useful tool in monitoring life style modification during pubertal growth.

Keyword

Puberty, precocious; Body composition; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Body Composition
Body Mass Index
Child
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Humans
Life Style
Obesity
Piperazines
Puberty
Puberty, Precocious
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Piperazines