J Obes Metab Syndr.  2018 Jun;27(2):110-116. 10.7570/jomes.2018.27.2.110.

Association between Body Mass Index and Serum Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Level in 8-Year-Old Girls

• Na JH
• Kim YH
• Hong SJ
• Kim JK

• KMID: 2415628
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/jomes.2018.27.2.110

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Adiposity may play a role as a potential trigger for adrenarche. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) level.
METHODS
The medical records of 8-year-old girls who presented to our clinic between 2014 and 2016 with concerns regarding pubertal changes were retrospectively reviewed. The 192 girls were divided into two groups depending on activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Group I included 77 subjects with a breast Tanner stage 1 with unknown HPG axis or thelarche without activated HPG axis. Group II included 115 subjects with activated HPG axis. Serum DHEAS level ≥1.1 µmol/L was regarded as biochemical adrenarche.
RESULTS
Based on correlation analyses, BMI standard deviation score (SDS) was positively correlated with height SDS, bone age divided by chronological age (BA/CA), and DHEAS level in all subjects (r=0.269, r=0.270, r=0.298; all P<0.001, respectively). BMI SDS was negatively correlated with peak luteinizing hormone level in group II (r=−0.236, P=0.011). Based on multiple linear regression analyses, BMI SDS was associated with serum DHEAS level in all subjects (β=0.280, P<0.001), group I (β=0.415, P=0.001), and group II (β=0.206, P=0.030). DHEAS level was also associated with BA/CA in all subjects (β=0.402, P<0.001), group I (β=0.494, P<0.001), and group II (β=0.347, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
BMI SDS was associated with DHEAS level, which was associated with BA/CA. Childhood obesity may influence the development of adrenarche, which may contribute to advanced skeletal maturation.

Keyword

Biochemical adrenarche; Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; Body mass index

MeSH Terms

Adiposity
Adrenarche
Body Mass Index*
Breast
Child*
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate*
Dehydroepiandrosterone*
Female*
Humans
Linear Models
Luteinizing Hormone
Medical Records
Pediatric Obesity
Retrospective Studies
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Luteinizing Hormone