The evaluation of possible role of endocrine disruptors in central and peripheral precocious puberty

Abstract

Exposure to environmental chemicals can affect genetic and epigenetic molecular pathways and may cause altered growth and development. Among those exposures, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are of particular concern as humans are abundantly exposed to these chemicals by various means in every period of life. Several well-known environmental chemicals, including phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), are classified as EDCs. These EDCs are suggested to play roles in early onset of puberty in girls. The aim of this study is to determine plasma phthalate (di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate [DEHP] and its main metabolite mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate [MEHP]) and urinary BPA levels in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). This study was performed on newly diagnosed idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) patients (n = 42) and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) (n = 42) patients, who were admitted to Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatric Endocrinology between August 2012 and -July 2013. Nonobese healthy girls (n = 50) were used as the control group. Urinary BPA levels were not statistically different in control, PPP and CPP groups (medians 10.91, 10.63 and 10.15 μg/g creatinine, respectively; p > 0.05). Plasma DEHP levels were significantly higher in PPP group when compared to control. Plasma MEHP levels were not significantly different in control and PPP groups (p > 0.05). However, in CPP group, both plasma DEHP and MEHP levels were significantly higher than control and PPP groups. This study showed that phthalates might play a role in the occurence of CPP in girls.

Vitamin B2 enhances development of puberty ovaries via regulation of essential elements and plasma endocrine hormones

“…The ovaries which produce eggs are an integral part of the female reproductive system [3]. The development of the ovaries during puberty needs many nutrients, growth factors and endocrine hormones [4]. Several hormones and growth factors can regulate ovarian development through the control of levels of interleukins in ovarian tissue (IL-1, IL-6, TNF and IL-2), as well levels of sex hormones and cortisol in the blood [5].…”

Acupuncture Improving Early Sexual Development of Girls with Peripheral Precocious Puberty: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Estradiol (E2) is the main component of estrogen, which is mainly secreted by ovarian granulosa cells and participates in the development of female reproductive organs and secondary sexual signs. e estrogen level of girls is easily affected by exogenous intake or environmental chemical exposure [31]; the precocious puberty caused by exogenous estrogen intake is mainly manifested as breast enlargement, obvious pigmentation of areola and vulva, and significant increase in blood estradiol. In this study, all the children only had breast enlargement and no areola and vulvar pigmentation, so the effect of exogenous hormones could be excluded.…”

Breast cancer is associated with methylation and expression of the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain�33 (ADAM33) gene affected by endocrine‑disrupting chemicals

“…EDCs are known to affect reproductive function and sex hormones primarily in humans because of their estrogenic and antiandrogenic properties. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are two well-known EDCs (7). The American Endocrinology Society says that EDCs have an impact on neuroendocrine, thyroid, metabolism, obesity, cardiovascular endocrinology, both male and female reproduction, prostate cancer, breast development and breast cancer formation (5).…”