Mechanism Of Increase On The Rate Of Estrogen And Androgen In Male Obese Children And Adolescents

Purposes:Obesity can affect the normal growth and development of children and adolescents. Furthermore, obesity may endanger their health when they are adults. Recent years, many domestic and foreign researches indicate that hormone disorders including sex hormone will appear in obese children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to survey the changes of sex hormonal levels in male obese children and adolescents. Cases with exceptional changes in the hormonal levels are subjected to further investigation in order to ascertain the possible mechanisms involved.Methods:Male children and adolescents who were 9-15 years old were chosen for research participates from primary and secondary school. They were divided into three groups according to pubertal stage:9-10 years group including 13 control participates,7 overweight participates and 8 obese participates; 11-13 years group including 34 control participates,22 overweight participates and 15 obese participates; 14-15 years group including 14 control participates,7 overweight participates and 8 obese participates. Body composition was tested for all participates. Blood samples were taken and tests were conducted to serum testosterone, estradiol, lutropin hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and sex hormone binding globulin level in those samples.Results:(1) In 9-10 and 11-13 years groups, the rate of estrogen and androgen in obese children didn't increase significantly compared with normal weight children; (2) In 14-15 years group, the rate of estrogen and androgen in obese children increase significantly compared with normal weight children; (3) In 14-15 years group, compared with normal weight adolescents, the level of estradiol in obese adolescents tends to increase; the level of sex hormone binding globulin in obese adolescents decreases significantly; the level of testosterone, lutropin hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in obese adolescents tends to decrease. Conclusions:(1) In 9-10 and 11-13 years groups, the rate of estrogen and androgen in obese groups tend to decrease compared with control groups; (2) In the group of 14-15 years, the rate of estrogen and androgen in obese adolescents significantly increase compared with normal weight adolescents; (3) The increase of the rate of estrogen and androgen in 14-15 years group may relate to the decrease of the level of sex hormone binding globulin.