This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reinehr, T. Articles by Andler, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reinehr, T. Articles by Andler, W. Related Collections Pediatric Endocrinology Obesity

Androgens before and after Weight Loss in Obese Children

Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents (T.R., G.d.S., W.A.), University of Witten/Herdecke, D-45711 Datteln, Germany; and Department of Pediatrics (C.L.R.), University of Bonn, D-53012 Bonn, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Thomas Reinehr, Vestische Kinderklinik und Jugendklinik, University of Witten/Herdecke, Dr. F. Steiner Strasse 5, 45711 Datteln, Germany. E-mail: t.reinehr{at}kinderklinik-datteln.de.

Context: Little information is available on androgens in obese children, and it is unknown whether these hormones change after weight loss.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare androgens between obese and normal-weight children and to study the effect of weight loss on androgens.

Design: The design was a cross-sectional comparison between obese and normal-weight children separated according to pubertal stage and longitudinal 1-yr follow-up study in obese children participating in a weight-loss intervention.

Setting: The setting of this study was a primary care facility.

Patients: A total of 273 obese and 79 lean children (aged 4–14 yr) were studied, including a subgroup of 155 obese children for the longitudinal study.

Intervention: The intervention program was an outpatient 1-yr intervention program based on exercise, behavior, and nutrition therapy (high-carbohydrate low-fat diet).

Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures included testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) at baseline and 1 yr later.

Results: The obese prepubertal children and the obese pubertal girls showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher testosterone and DHEAS levels, whereas obese pubertal boys did not significantly differ in androgens from their lean counterparts. Significant correlations with body mass index were demonstrated in multivariate regression analyses for DHEAS in all children and for testosterone in prepubertal children and in pubertal girls. The obese prepubertal children and obese girls losing substantial weight showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in their testosterone concentrations.

Conclusions: Moderately increased testosterone and DHEAS levels were found in obese prepubertal children and in obese pubertal girls, whereas androgen concentrations did not differ between obese and normal-weight pubertal boys. Weight loss induced a decrease in testosterone in obese prepubertal children and pubertal girls pointing to a reversible increase of androgens.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. R. McCartney, K. A. Prendergast, S. K. Blank, K. D. Helm, S. Chhabra, and J. C. Marshall Maturation of Luteinizing Hormone (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) Secretion across Puberty: Evidence for Altered Regulation in Obese Peripubertal Girls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2009; 94(1): 56 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Barat, D. E. W. Livingstone, C. M. C. Elferink, C. R. McDonnell, B. R. Walker, and R. Andrew Effects of Gonadectomy on Glucocorticoid Metabolism in Obese Zucker Rats Endocrinology, October 1, 2007; 148(10): 4836 - 4843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Rosenfield Identifying Children at Risk for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2007; 92(3): 787 - 796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. McCartney, S. K. Blank, K. A. Prendergast, S. Chhabra, C. A. Eagleson, K. D. Helm, R. Yoo, R. J. Chang, C. M. Foster, S. Caprio, et al. Obesity and Sex Steroid Changes across Puberty: Evidence for Marked Hyperandrogenemia in Pre- and Early Pubertal Obese Girls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2007; 92(2): 430 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Poretsky Polycystic Ovary Syndrome--Increased or Preserved Ovarian Sensitivity to Insulin? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 2859 - 2860. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. McCartney, K. A. Prendergast, S. Chhabra, C. A. Eagleson, R. Yoo, R. J. Chang, C. M. Foster, and J. C. Marshall The Association of Obesity and Hyperandrogenemia during the Pubertal Transition in Girls: Obesity as a Potential Factor in the Genesis of Postpubertal Hyperandrogenism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2006; 91(5): 1714 - 1722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]