Characteristics of Pubertal Development and Environment in Girls with Precocious Puberty According to the Level of Peak LH

Abstract

There are some reports that high incidence of early onset of sexual development is related to improved nutrition, changes in living habits caused by social and economic developments, and especially to obesity. Our prospective study attempted to identify the features by investigating and analyzing the physical development status, results of specific hormone tests, living environment, and dietary habits of 60 girls who visited our university hospital with symptoms of early secondary sexual characteristics, and to explore the elements that could be helpful for future medical examinations and treatments. Patients were divided in two groups due to the result of gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test. In Group 1, peak luteinizing hormone levels of ≥ 5 mIU/mL and the rest of the patients were included in Group 2. In Group 1, there showed early onset of maternal menstruation (menarche), increased intake of chicken-based foods, increased insulin-like growth factor 1 and estradiol. These result showed that precocious puberty was related to genetic and environmental effects, especially diets such as chicken-based foods. Correcting living environments and diet habits will be helpful for prevention of precocious puberty in girls and future study will be needed.