Current views on the factors influencing the onset of puberty
Authors:
MUDr. Pavel Langer, DrSc.
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav experimentálnej endokrinológie SAV
; Bratislava
; laboratórium diabetu a výživy
Published in:
Prakt Gyn 2006; 10(1): 24-27
Overview
Recent studies from several countries show that the onset of puberty under the condition of modern civilised society appears few years earlier than 100-150 years ago. It is generally accepted that the studies of the etiological factors influencing the present status should be undertaken to elucidate this process. It is recommended to evaluate especially a possible participation of nutrition, genetic and ethnical factors as well as that of environmental chemical pollutants. The early onset of puberty was found to be influence the early onset of mammary cancer, obesity etc. Several chemical pollutants showed hormonal effects in experimental animals and such effects are considered to influence also the onset of puberty which has been recently supported by several epidemiologial studies in adolescents. Other numerous studies showed the deteriorating effects of prenatal and early postnatal exposure (via breast feeding) to such pollutants on postnatal development of cognitive and psychopneuromotoric functions, immune system, gonadal and thyroid axis as well as other functions.
Key words:
puberty onset — environmental pollutants — prenatal exposure — postnatal exposure — sexual maturation
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Labels
Paediatric gynaecology Gynaecology and obstetrics Reproduction medicineArticle was published in
Practical Gynecology
2006 Issue 1
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