Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Early Puberty in Girls.

Anastasios Papadimitriou,Dimitrios Papadimitriou

doi:10.3390/children8060492

Abstract

In recent decades, pubertal onset in girls has been considered to occur at an earlier age than previously. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been associated with alterations in pubertal timing, with several reports suggesting that EDCs may have a role in the secular trend in pubertal maturation, at least in girls. However, relevant studies give inconsistent results. On the other hand, the majority of girls with idiopathic precocious or early puberty present the growth pattern of constitutional advancement of growth (CAG), i.e., growth acceleration soon after birth. Herein, we show that the growth pattern of CAG is unrelated to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and is the major determinant of precocious or early puberty. Presented data suggest that EDCs, at most, have a minor effect on the timing of pubertal onset in girls.

Highlights

Pubertal timing is multifactorial involving a predominant effect of genetic and epigenetic factors and to a lesser—but still significant—extent, environmental factors
In a US study of girls, Wolff et al reported that bisphenol A (BPA) had no influence on breast development [26], in studies performed in Turkey and in Thailand, idiopathic central precocious puberty was associated with higher levels of BPA than in control girls [27,28]
CoBnasstietdutoionntahleAodbvsearnvcaetmioenntthoaft GgirrolswwthitahnpdreEcaorclyioPuus bpeurbtyerty athreattaglilrlfsorwaigthe,parnedcoaclisooutsaplluerbefortryT(Hi.e,.e, vweinthabt rtehaesot ndseevteol-f oppumbeerntat lbdeefovreelo8pymeeanrts, owfeaegxea) marienetadllthfoergargowe,tahnodf a4l7sogitralsllewriftohrIPTPHf,reovmenbiartththuenotinlsdeitof pubertal development, we examined the growth of 47 girls with idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP) from birth until diagnosis [39]

Summary

Introduction

Pubertal timing is multifactorial involving a predominant effect of genetic and epigenetic factors and to a lesser—but still significant—extent, environmental factors. Environmental factors are major determinants of the onset of puberty and the age at menarche. Environmental factors may result in epigenetic modifications in an organism, the epigenetic effects of the environment on the hypothalamic regulation of puberty are still to be discovered. The causes of central precocious puberty may be organic, e.g., due to tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) or most commonly idiopathic, i.e., no etiological factor is identified with appropriate imaging of the CNS. There have been reports from several countries detailing that the onset of puberty in girls occurs at a younger age than previously [7,8]. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) have been suggested as affecting the age of pubertal onset, especially in girls. We show that CAG is unrelated to EDC exposure and we maintain that EDCs have, at most, a minor role on female pubertal timing

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

Constitutional Advancement of Growth

Findings

Is There an Association between EDC Exposure and CAG?