Pubertal Onset in Boys and Girls Is Influenced by Pubertal Timing of Both Parents

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pubertal Onset in Boys and Girls Is Influenced by Pubertal Timing of Both Parents

AU - Wohlfahrt-Veje, Christine

AU - Mouritsen, Annette

AU - Hagen, Casper P

AU - Tinggaard, Jeanette

AU - Mieritz, Mikkel Grunnet

AU - Boas, Malene

AU - Petersen, Jørgen Holm

AU - Skakkebæk, Niels E

AU - Main, Katharina M

PY - 2016/7

Y1 - 2016/7

N2 - CONTEXT: Epidemiological evidence on maternal and paternal heritability of the wide normal variation within pubertal timing is sparse.OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate the impact of parental pubertal timing on the onset of puberty in boys and girls.DESIGN: Annual pubertal examinations of healthy children in a longitudinal cohort study. Information on parental timing of puberty (earlier, comparable to, or later compared to peers) and menarche age was retrieved from questionnaires.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 672 girls and 846 boys.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at onset of pubic hair (PH2+), breasts (B2+), and menarche in girls; and PH2+, genital stage (G2+), and testis >3 mL with orchidometer (Tvol3+) in boys.RESULTS: In boys, pubertal onset was significantly associated with pubertal timing of both parents. PH2+ and Tvol3+ were earlier: -11.8 months (95% confidence interval, -16.8, -6.8)/-8.9 (-12.8, -4.9), and -9.5 (-13.9, -5.1)/-7.1 (-10.4, -3.7) if the father/mother, respectively, had early pubertal development compared to late. In girls, menarche was significantly associated with both parents' pubertal timing: -10.5 months (-15.9, -5.1)/-10.1 (-14.3, -6.0) if father/mother had early pubertal development compared to late. For the onset of PH2+ and B2+ in girls, estimates were -7.0 months (-12.6, -1.4) and -4.1 (-10.6, +2.4)/-6.7 (-11.0, -2.5), and -6.7 (-11.0, -2.0) for fathers/mothers, respectively. Maternal age of menarche was significantly associated with the onset of all pubertal milestones except PH2+ in girls.CONCLUSIONS: Maternal as well as paternal pubertal timing was a strong determinant of age at pubertal onset in both girls and boys. Age at breast and pubic hair development in girls, which has declined most during recent years, seemed to be least dependent on heritability.

AB - CONTEXT: Epidemiological evidence on maternal and paternal heritability of the wide normal variation within pubertal timing is sparse.OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate the impact of parental pubertal timing on the onset of puberty in boys and girls.DESIGN: Annual pubertal examinations of healthy children in a longitudinal cohort study. Information on parental timing of puberty (earlier, comparable to, or later compared to peers) and menarche age was retrieved from questionnaires.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 672 girls and 846 boys.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at onset of pubic hair (PH2+), breasts (B2+), and menarche in girls; and PH2+, genital stage (G2+), and testis >3 mL with orchidometer (Tvol3+) in boys.RESULTS: In boys, pubertal onset was significantly associated with pubertal timing of both parents. PH2+ and Tvol3+ were earlier: -11.8 months (95% confidence interval, -16.8, -6.8)/-8.9 (-12.8, -4.9), and -9.5 (-13.9, -5.1)/-7.1 (-10.4, -3.7) if the father/mother, respectively, had early pubertal development compared to late. In girls, menarche was significantly associated with both parents' pubertal timing: -10.5 months (-15.9, -5.1)/-10.1 (-14.3, -6.0) if father/mother had early pubertal development compared to late. For the onset of PH2+ and B2+ in girls, estimates were -7.0 months (-12.6, -1.4) and -4.1 (-10.6, +2.4)/-6.7 (-11.0, -2.5), and -6.7 (-11.0, -2.0) for fathers/mothers, respectively. Maternal age of menarche was significantly associated with the onset of all pubertal milestones except PH2+ in girls.CONCLUSIONS: Maternal as well as paternal pubertal timing was a strong determinant of age at pubertal onset in both girls and boys. Age at breast and pubic hair development in girls, which has declined most during recent years, seemed to be least dependent on heritability.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1210/jc.2016-1073

DO - 10.1210/jc.2016-1073

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27014950

SN - 0021-972X

VL - 101

SP - 2667

EP - 2674

JO - The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

JF - The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

IS - 7

ER -