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Altered androgen metabolism present in early childhood in daughters of mothers with PCOS
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In girls whose mothers had polycystic ovary syndrome, differences in androgen metabolism are present in early childhood, study data show.
The development of PCOS may be influenced by increased 5alpha-reductase activity amplifying target tissue androgen action.
Andrea Dunaif, MD, professor in medicine-endocrinology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and colleagues evaluated 21 girls aged 1 to 3 years whose mothers had PCOS (cases) and 36 controls to determine whether daughters of women with PCOS have altered androgen metabolism in early childhood.
Compared with controls, cases had higher weight-for-length z score (P = .02); researchers observed a trend toward increased alpha-cortol (P = .07) and higher excretion of 5-alpha-tetrahydrocorticosterone (P = .05).
No differences were found for excretion of total cortisol metabolites, total cortisone metabolites, total glucocorticoid metabolites or total androgen metabolites between the groups.
Based on the 5alpha-tetrahydrocorticosterone to tetrahydrocorticosterone ratio, cases had significantly higher in vivo 5alpha-reductase activity (P = .04).
“Our findings suggest that increased 5[alpha]-reductase activity is present in girls at risk for PCOS in early childhood,” the researchers wrote. “Hence, enzyme expression in target tissues may be primed toward androgen activation in genetically affected PCOS-[daughters] prior to the onset of increased glandular [dehydroepiandrosterone] secretion during adrenarche. These findings support our hypothesis that genetic variation leading to hyperandrogenemia, specifically increased tissue production of [dihydrotestosterone], contributes to the development of PCOS through epigenetic action during critical developmental windows.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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