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Advanced bone age and hyperinsulinemia in overweight and obese children

Orit Pinhas-Hamiel1, Doreen Benary2, Kineret Mazor-Aronovich1

  • 1Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
|September 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Marked hyperinsulinemia is associated with advanced bone age (BA) in obese children. This suggests insulin may directly influence skeletal growth in humans, impacting bone maturation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Syndrome Research
  • Skeletal Development Studies

Background:

  • Obese children often exhibit advanced bone age (BA) compared to chronological age (CA).
  • In vitro studies suggest insulin may directly impact skeletal growth.
  • The relationship between insulin levels and BA maturation in obese children requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between fasting insulin levels and bone age maturation in obese children.
  • To determine if insulin modulates skeletal growth in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 74 overweight and obese children (ages 4-13) was studied.
  • Bone age advancement was assessed using the BA divided by CA ratio (BA:CA).
  • Metabolic syndrome components, including fasting insulin, were measured.

Main Results:

  • Advanced BA maturation (BA:CA > 1.21) was linked to younger age, higher BMI-Z scores, and increased height.
  • Females had a significantly higher risk of advanced BA compared to males.
  • Hyperinsulinemia (fasting insulin > 30 μU/L) was independently associated with a 6.8-fold increased risk of advanced BA.

Conclusions:

  • Significant hyperinsulinemia is associated with advanced bone age in obese children.
  • These findings suggest insulin plays a role in modulating skeletal growth in humans.
Abstract

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