Onset Of Pubertal Growth Research Articles

Timing of menarche and pubertal growth patterns using the QEPS growth model.

To explore the timing of menarche, postmenarcheal growth, and to investigate the impact of various variables on menarcheal age and postmenarcheal and pubertal growth. This longitudinal community population-based study analyzed pubertal growth and menarcheal age in 793 healthy term-born Swedish girls, a subset of the GrowUp1990Gothenburg cohort. The timing of menarche and postmenarcheal growth was related to variables from the Quadratic-Exponential-Pubertal-Stop (QEPS) growth model, birth characteristics, and parental height. Multivariable models were constructed for clinical milestones; at birth, age 7 years, pubertal growth onset, and midpuberty. Menarche aligned with 71.6% (18.8) of the QEPS model's specific pubertal growth function, at a mean age of 13.0 (1.3) years, ranging from 8.2 to 17.2 years. Postmenarcheal growth averaged 8.0 (4.9) cm, varying widely from 0.2 to 31.1 cm, decreasing with later menarche. Significant factors associated with menarcheal age included height at 7 years, childhood body-mass index, parental height, and QEPS-derived pubertal growth variables. Multivariable models demonstrated increasing explanatory power for each milestone, explaining 1% of the variance in menarcheal age at birth, 8% at age 7 years, 44% at onset of pubertal growth, and 45% at midpuberty. This study underscores the strong link between pubertal growth and age at menarche. Data available at start of puberty explain 44% of the variation in menarcheal age, apparent on average 3.2 years before menarche. In addition, the study shows a previously seldom noticed wide variation in postmenarcheal height gain from 0.2 to 31.1 cm.

A new type of pubertal height reference based on growth aligned for onset of pubertal growth.

Objectives Growth references of today traditionally describe growth in relation to chronological age. Despite the broad variation in age of pubertal maturation, references related to biological age are lacking. To fill this knowledge gap, we aimed to develop a new type of pubertal height reference for improved growth evaluation during puberty, considering individual variation in pubertal timing. Methods Longitudinal length/height measures were obtainedfrom birth to adult height in 1,572 healthy Swedishchildren (763 girls) born at term ∼1990 to nonsmoking mothers and Nordic parents, a subgroup of GrowUp1990Gothenburg cohort. A total height reference was constructed from Quadratic-Exponential-Puberty-Stop (QEPS)-function-estimated heights from individual height curves that had been aligned for time/age at onset of pubertal growth (5% of P-function growth). References that separated growth into specific pubertal heightSDS (P-function growth) and basic heightSDS (QES-function growth) were also generated. Results References (cm and SDS) are presented for total height, and height subdivided into that specific to puberty and to basic growth arising independently of puberty. The usefulness of the new pubertal growth reference was explored by identifying differences in the underlying growth functions that translate into differences in pubertal height gain for children of varying body mass, height, and with different pubertal timings. Conclusions A new type of height reference allowing alignment of individual growth curves, based on the timing of the pubertal growth spurt was developed using QEPS-model functions. This represents a paradigm shift in pubertal growth research and growth monitoring during the adolescent period.

Being born large for gestational age is associated with earlier pubertal take-off and longer growth duration: a longitudinal study.

Perinatal factors seem to influence the onset of puberty, but there is limited information on the potential effect of large size at birth on pubertal growth. This study evaluated pubertal growth in children born large for gestational age (LGA) compared to children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Longitudinal growth data collected from 70 children - 40 AGA and 30 LGA - were analysed. The ages at take-off, peak height velocity, final height and pubertal growth spurts were calculated using the Preece-Baines model I. Large for gestational age children showed an earlier age at take-off compared to AGA children (10.1 ± 1.2 versus 11.0 ± 1.4 years, p = 0.007), whereas the age at peak height velocity and at final height was similar. LGA children showed a longer growth spurt duration (2.5 ± 1 versus 1.5 ± 1.2 years, p < 0.001) and total pubertal duration (5.3 ± 1.2 versus 4.6 ± 1.2 years, p = 0.036) than AGA children. Results were similar when stratified by sex. Being born LGA was associated with an earlier pubertal take-off and longer growth duration. These unique findings, due to the lack of studies on pubertal growth patterns in LGA children, might lead the way to novel research and a different approach to LGA children at the onset of pubertal growth.