Dietary pattern and precocious puberty risk in Chinese girls: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• The relationship between diet and precocious puberty is not well understood.
• Precocious puberty affects children's physical and psychological well-being.
• Investigating dietary factors is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between dietary intake (amount and frequency) and the risk of developing precocious puberty.
• To identify specific food groups and dietary patterns linked to precocious puberty in Chinese girls.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 185 girls with precocious puberty and 185 age-matched controls.
• Dietary intake assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
• Conditional logistic regression models used to analyze associations, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

Main Results:

• Higher red meat consumption correlated with increased precocious puberty risk (OR=2.74).
• Increased fruit and vegetable intake showed a trend towards lower risk (P=0.024 for fruit, P=0.002 for vegetables).
• A dietary pattern rich in vegetables and protein was protective (OR=0.78), while a pattern high in animal foods and fruits was associated with higher risk (OR=1.36).

Conclusions:

• A diet emphasizing vegetables and protein acts as a protective factor against precocious puberty.
• Diets high in animal foods and fruits may increase precocious puberty risk in Chinese girls.
• Recommendations include moderating red meat, eggs, and fruit intake while increasing vegetable consumption for prevention.