Diet During Puberty Influences Sex Hormone Levels

Science Daily ^ | 2003-01-15 | Journal Of The National Cancer Institute

[vannrox]

Diet During Puberty Influences Sex Hormone Levels, Possibly Breast Cancer Risk

A modest reduction in fat intake during puberty is associated with changes in the levels of certain sex hormones, according to a study of adolescent girls in the January 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In adults, elevated levels of sex hormones are associated with an increase in breast cancer risk.

Joanne F. Dorgan, Ph.D., of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and her colleagues conducted a study ancillary to the Dietary Intervention Study in Children to examine whether diet influences sex hormone levels during adolescence. The study involved 286 girls ages 8 to 10 who were randomly assigned to a low-fat dietary intervention group or to a group receiving usual care (e.g., educational materials available to the public). The researchers measured blood sex hormone levels at the start of the study and 1, 3, 5, and 7 years later.

After 5 years, girls in the intervention group had 29.8% lower estradiol, 30.2% lower non-sex hormone binding globulin-bound estradiol, 20.7% lower estrone, and 28.7% lower estrone sulfate levels during the first half of their menstrual cycles and 27.2% higher testosterone levels during the second half of their menstrual cycles compared with girls in the usual care group. After 7 years, girls in the intervention group had half the progesterone levels during the second half of their menstrual cycles as did girls in the usual care group.

Girls in the intervention group reported consuming less total and saturated fat overall than girls in the usual care group. Girls in the intervention group also reported consuming more dietary fiber.

Although their study found that a low-fat diet resulted in reductions in estrogen hormone concentrations, the authors say that "whether these differences ultimately influence breast cancer risk is unknown." A parallel study was conducted in boys, and results will be reported separately.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued for journalists and other members of the public. If you wish to quote any part of this story, please credit Journal Of The National Cancer Institute as the original source. You may also wish to include the following link in any citation:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/01/030115065844.htm

[vannrox]

Interesting.

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[oldcomputerguy]

Yeah if we get them off fat altogether we can get them up to a 100% increase in testosterone and have all men instead of women. That will get rid of their breast cancer....and their breasts.

[GovernmentShrinker]

It would be more interesting if they mentioned the relative caloric intake of the two groups. Low-fat diets are not necessarily lower calorie diets, but they might tend to be if combined with a ongoing "dietary intervention" program. That heavier women are more prone to breast cancer is not news. It would be news if the type, rather than number, of calories consumed had an effect on breast cancer rates.

[China Clipper]

Interesting indeed....I've postulated for years that its the higher protien diets, protein, fat, whatever.... The kids today seem to be sexually maturing faster than ever, physiologically but certainly NOT mentally!!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Again, much of this is calories (though researchers supect other factors as well). Regardless of the content of the diest, girls generally hit puberty when they reach a certain weight/body fat level.