Relation of adrenal-derived steroids with bone maturation, mineral density and geometry in healthy prepubertal and early pubertal boys

• Published in: Bone (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2014-12, Vol.69, p.39-46
• Main Authors: Vandewalle, S, Taes, Y, Fiers, T, Toye, K, Van Caenegem, E, Kaufman, J.-M, De Schepper, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adolescent; Adrenal steroids; Androstenedione - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Bone Density; Bone Development - physiology; Bone geometry; Bone maturation; Bone mineral density; Child; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Estrone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunoassay; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Orthopedics; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Puberty; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 8756-3282; 1873-2763
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2014.09.002

Abstract Background Little is known about the effects of adrenal steroids on skeletal maturation and bone mass acquisition in healthy prepubertal boys. Objective To study whether adrenal-derived steroids within the physiological range are associated with skeletal maturation, areal and volumetric bone mineral density (aBMD and vBMD) and bone geometry in healthy prepubertal and early pubertal boys. Methods 98 healthy prepubertal and early pubertal boys (aged 6–14 y) were studied cross-sectionally. Androstenedione (A) and estrone (E1) were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and DHEAS was determined by immunoassay. Whole body and lumbar spine aBMD and bone area were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Trabecular (distal site) and cortical (proximal site) vBMD and bone geometry were assessed at the non-dominant forearm and leg using peripheral QCT. Skeletal age was determined by X-ray of the left hand. Results Adrenal-derived steroids (DHEAS, A and E1) are positively associated with bone age in prepubertal and early pubertal children, independently of age. There are no associations between the adrenal-derived steroids and the studied parameters of bone size (lumbar spine and whole body bone area, trabecular or cortical area at the radius or tibia, periosteal circumference and cortical thickness at the radius or tibia) or BMD (aBMD or vBMD). Conclusion In healthy prepubertal and early pubertal boys, serum adrenal-derived steroid levels, are associated with skeletal maturation, independently of age, but not with bone size or (v)BMD. Our data suggest that adrenal derived steroids are not implicated in the accretion of bone mass before puberty in boys.