Summary
The adrenal steroid secretion was studied in 6 prepubertal obese boys and 6 obese
boys at the first stage of sexual maturation according to Tanner. Twelve normal boys,
closely matched for age and stage of sexual maturation, were also studied as controls.
Pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone plasma levels were found to be significantly
(P< 0.001) higher in both groups when compared with normal boys. All the values, apart
from pregnenolone in the prepubertal group, returned to normal after weight loss.
Progesterone was found significantly increased (P < 0.001) in both groups and normal
after weight loss. 17-OH-progesterone plasma levels showed no significant difference
between the obese and control groups. Androstenedione was increased in the prepubertal
group before and normal after weight loss; no significant difference was found in
the other group. Testosterone and estradiol showed normal values in the two groups
both before and after weight loss. Cortisol showed a similar pattern. It can be concluded
that an increased corticoadrenal activity is present in obese boys as already reported
in obese girls. This finding could explain the precocious adrenarche which often occurs
in these patients. The increased adrenal androgen secretion might be due to an increased
cortico adrenal stimulating hormone secretion or to an enhanced adrenal sensitivity
to this hypothetical hormone.
Key-Words:
Adrenal androgens
-
Obesity
-
CASH
-
Weight Loss
-
Adrenarche
