The relationship between pubertal timing and under‐nutrition in rural Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction Sexual development in females and males are routinely measured according to the Tanner Stages. Sparse data exist on the timing of pubertal milestones in Pakistan. To fill this gap, the age of attainment of pubertal milestones and their relationship with nutritional status was explored among children and adolescents living in the rural district of Matiari, Pakistan. Methods Anthropometry, nutrition biomarkers and Tanner Stage were assessed among girls aged 9.0–14.9 years (n = 723) and boys aged 10.0–15.9 years (n = 662) who were free from known disease in the rural District of Matiari, Pakistan. Median age was calculated for all Tanner Stages and menarche. Multivariable linear regressions were undertaken to determine covariates associated with the timing (age) of pubertal milestones. Results Among participants living in this rural community, the median age of puberty onset for girls was 11.9 years (95%CI:10.9; 12.5) and boys was 12.3 years (95%CI:11.5; 12.9). Age at first menarche was 12.9 years (95%CI:12.1; 13.3). Undernutrition was widespread among adolescents in this community. Thirty‐seven percent of females and 27.0% of males were stunted while 20.5% of females and 31.3% of males were thin. Only 8% (n = 58) of females and 12% (n = 78) of males were free from any nutrient deficiency with most adolescents having two or three nutrient deficiencies. Conclusions Undernutrition (stunting or thinness) was associated with relatively older ages for early puberty stages but not puberty completion. This may decrease the duration of the pubertal growth spurt and curtail potential catch‐up growth that may occur during puberty. Efforts to decrease nutrient deficiencies, stunting and thinness beyond childhood should be made in rural Pakistan.

Puberty in pre‐Roman times: A bioarchaeological study of Etruscan‐Samnite adolescents from Pontecagnano (southern Italy)

“…While imprecision in age estimation could be contributing to this finding, it is unlikely to account for such a large difference. Like pubertal timing, pubertal tempo is mainly regulated by genetics, even though its expression can be strongly affected by environmental factors (Campisi et al, 2021; Schlegel & Hewlett, 2011).…”

“…Chronic infectious diseases, malnutrition and metabolic deficiencies can all inhibit or retard growth (Brabin & Brabin, 1992; Campisi et al, 2021; Lewis, 2007; Lewis et al, 2016a; Soliman et al, 2014). In Pontecagnano, before the important drainage interventions that took place between the end of the sixth century BC and the beginning of the fifth century BC (Pellegrino & Rossi, 2011), the marshy environment favoured the presence of endemic malaria and thalassemia (Fornaciari et al, 1989; Sabbatani et al, 2010).…”

The Comparison of the Effect of Recombinant FSH in Antagonist Protocol on Serum and Follicular Fluid Kisspeptin between PCOS and non-PCOS Infertile Women during ICSI

“…5 Reproduction is a complex function regulated by the delicate incorporation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryovarian(HPO) axis and controlled by a complex system of inhibitory and excitatory mediators. 6 In the hypothalamus, the (GnRH) secreting neurons secret GnRH in two modes, the tonic mode important for sex steroid production and ovarian follicular growth, and the surge mode essential for ovulation induction. GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secret FSH and LH, which are responsible for controlling sex steroid (estrogen and progesterone) secretion from the ovaries ending in normal ovulation.…”

Trends in growth and nutritional status of high school graduates in Hangzhou, China, 2011–2020

“…Growth and nutritional status in adolescence play an important role in the whole human life. Both undernutrition and overnutrition in adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences even in adulthood [ 1 – 6 ]. Undernutrition in adolescence not only negatively impacts growth and puberty development [ 1 ], but also elevates the risk of diseases, such as infection, fracture and so on [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…Both undernutrition and overnutrition in adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences even in adulthood [ 1 – 6 ]. Undernutrition in adolescence not only negatively impacts growth and puberty development [ 1 ], but also elevates the risk of diseases, such as infection, fracture and so on [ 2 , 3 ]. Overnutrition in adolescence increases risk of obesity in adulthood [ 4 ] and is associated with elevated long-term risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality [ 5 , 6 ].…”