The association between sleep and early pubertal development in Chinese children: a school population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThere is an increasing tendency toward early pubertal development, and sleep might be related to pubertal onset. We aimed to investigate the association of sleep duration and bedtime with early pubertal development.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 8,007 children (53.6% boys) from Qufu city, Shandong province and Zhongshan city, Guangdong province, China. Data on sleep duration and bedtime were obtained by questionnaire. Early pubertal development was the primary outcome and it was evaluated by the pediatrician according to Tanner staging. Logistic regression models were used to separately examine the association between sleep duration or bedtime and early pubertal development, controlling body mass index (BMI), dietary pattern, soft drink, feeding pattern and mother’s BMI.ResultsIn boys, short sleep duration was strongly related to early pubertal development [OR (95%CI): 4.26 (1.30, 13.94)], and this association was intensified after adjusted BMI, dietary pattern, soft drink, feeding pattern and mother’s BMI. In girls, OR (95%CI) was 1.62 (1.04, 2.51), and increased after controlling BMI. Bedtime was associated with early pubertal development on weekdays [OR (95%CI): 6.39 (1.54, 26.45) in boys and 1.93 (1.23, 3.05) in girls], but not on weekends [OR (95%CI): 2.49 (0.61, 10.21) in boys; 1.31 (0.76, 2.25) in girls].ConclusionThis study underscores the positive association between the risk of early pubertal development and insufficient sleep duration and late bedtime.

Genetic and non-genetic factors in prediction of early pubertal development in Chinese girls

“…After adding day sleeping time, the total sleeping time of girls in the control group was 10.26 ± 0.7 hours/day, but the total sleeping time of girls in the case group was still insufficient (9.70 ± 1.0 hours/day). Although insufficient sleep was suggested a risk factor for EPD ( 6 ), the difference of total sleeping time between the two groups was not significant. Until now, the mechanism of the association of day sleeping time with EPD is not known, and future studies are needed to explore the related mechanism.…”

“…The timing of normal pubertal onset is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. It is considered that overnutrition, insufficient exercise ( 20 ), insufficient sleep ( 6 ), as well as expose to some EDCs ( 7 ) are linked to EPD. In this study, we found that longer day sleeping time may be a protective factor for EPD.…”

“…Previous studies have examined associations between certain SNPs and EPD ( 6 , 7 ). However, such SNPs individually have low predictive ability for the risk of EPD.…”

“…The timing of normal pubertal onset varies greatly and is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. It is considered that overnutrition, insufficient exercise, insufficient sleep ( 6 ), and expose to some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) ( 7 ) are linked to early puberty. Currently, there are no risk prediction models for EPD developed worldwide, and the prediction of EPD risk has not been part of routine practice for families.…”