Insulin resistance and bone age advancement in girls with central precocious puberty

Precocious puberty has significantly increased recently. While obesity is associated with puberty timing, the relationship between obesity and central precocious puberty (CPP) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine whether insulin resistance is associated with bone age (BA) advancement in girls with CPP.

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 804 girls referred for puberty evaluation. Anthropometric measurements, BA, sex hormone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and insulin levels, lipid profiles, and gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulation tests were assessed. Insulin resistance parameters were calculated using the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) models.

BA, BA advancement, free estradiol index, insulin, and HOMA-IR increased significantly in girls with high body mass index (BMI) compared with that of girls with low BMI in cases of CPP. HOMA-IR was positively correlated with BA advancement and BMI but negatively correlated with SHBG. QUICKI was negatively correlated with BA advancement and BMI and positively correlated with SHBG. When HOMA-IR increased by 1, the odds for BA advancement increased 120% after adjusting for age and BMI (P=0.033).

Insulin resistance could be associated with BA advancement in girls with CPP.