Article at Medscape: Early Onset of Puberty in Girls Still a Mystery

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I found the following article interesting, and wanted to pass it on.

Petuya

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From Medscape's Diabetes and Endocrinology MedPulse 09-Feb-01:

" Early Onset of Puberty in Girls Still a Mystery "

http://diabetes.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/02/02.08/20010207epid010.html

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" Early Onset of Puberty in Girls Still a Mystery "

WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) Feb 07 - Scientists have known for several years

that girls and boys are reaching puberty earlier than in the past, but they

still do not know why this is happening, or what the consequences might be,

experts said at a forum here Monday sponsored by the Environmental Media

Services.

A study of 17,000 girls, reported in the journal Pediatrics in 1997, found

that the average starting age of puberty among white girls had dipped a year

from previous studies, to 9.7 years.

African-American girls were found to reach puberty even earlier, at an

average age of about 8, according to Dr. Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, the

principal investigator and a professor at the University of North Carolina,

Chapel Hill.

Data on when puberty starts has been skimpy over the years - especially for

African Americans. Still, Dr. Herman-Giddens said at the forum, " I am

confident that this trend is a real trend, " adding that adolescence seems to

be starting earlier and lasting longer in children worldwide. She is

currently analyzing data on US boys.

" What we're seeing is a symptom of a very serious public health problem, "

said Dr. Herman-Giddens, noting that the long-term physical and mental

health effects of early puberty are not understood.

Among the potential causes she mentioned are obesity or overweight,

genetics, low birthweight, poor diet, lack of activity, and, surprisingly,

an absentee father or a nonrelative male in the house.

Scientists have also been exploring whether so-called endocrine disrupters -

a group of chemicals thought to interfere with hormonal function - might be

spurring or delaying puberty, Dr. Herman-Giddens noted.

Dr. Myers, director of the W. Alton Foundation and

author of a book on chemical contamination and fetal development, said that

some of these chemicals have retarded sexual development in rat fetuses.

Among the most controversial of these chemicals are phthalate esters, which

are found in toys, vinyl flooring, detergents, and cosmetics and lotions.

The science is not certain, but there is a plausible link, contends Dr.

Myers.

On Wednesday the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association released a

statement noting that phthalates are widely used and have been favorably

reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Environmental

Protection Agency, " and other scientific bodies in Europe, North America and

Japan. "

Dr. Zuckerman, executive director of the National Center for Policy

Research for Women and Families, said that she worries about the

psychological impact of early puberty on young girls. She explained that

studies have shown that girls who develop at a young age begin dating

earlier, have sex sooner, are subject to more psychological stress and

behavior problems, and are more likely to drink and smoke.

" No matter what they look like, they are still little girls, " she said. Dr.

Zuckerman added that early puberty places stress on parents, who have to

explain sexuality when their child is young.

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[Guest guest]

,

This reminded me of a study my friend read to me a few years ago that

scientists were studying the effect of the hormones that were given to dairy

cows were causing early puberty, especially to girls, by ingestion due to

the fact that they were still present in the milk even after the process of

pasturization.

Makes ya think.

Nikki-mom to 6, and Nala the cat.

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