Comparative heights of mothers and fathers whose children are short

Article Abstract:

A study of the heights of parents of children with growth hormone deficiency revealed that the mothers tended to be short in stature. However, it is not clear whether short stature of the mother is characteristic only for children with growth hormone deficiency or whether this feature occurs in other forms of short stature, such as that due to genetic causes or delayed growth. Previous studies examining the relation between heights of children and parents were conducted with normal children; consisted of small numbers of subjects; and did not compare heights of mothers and fathers. Consequently, the relation of heights of parents and children were assessed in 341 children with short stature of varying causes. The children were classified into three groups according to the cause of short stature: genetic short stature; delayed growth; and normal short stature or height in the 5th to 25th percentile of the growth curve. The average height of mothers of children with genetic short stature, 157.7 centimeters (cm), was less than the average height of mothers of children with delayed growth, 161.1 cm, or of mothers of children with normal short stature, 162.5 cm. (These heights are about 62, 63 and 64 inches, respectively.) The average height of fathers was similar for all groups. These findings indicate that the height of a child with genetic short stature is related more to the mother's height. This relation was not observed among children with short stature due to delayed growth. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Genetic aspects, Stature, Body height

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Sex steroids do not influence somatic growth in childhood

Article Abstract:

The influence of sex steroids on body growth was evaluated in 18 children who were either functionally or anatomically without gonads (testes or ovaries), but had normal sex chromosomes. One such condition affecting girls is Turner syndrome, a congenital endocrine disorder in which the ovaries fail to respond to hormonal signals from the pituitary gland. It is not clear when these patients should be given estrogen therapy; some clinicians initiate the treatment as early as age five in order to assure normal growth. The growth charts of the 18 boys and girls were evaluated. In the prepubertal years before therapy with sex steroids was begun, none of the patients had height measurements that were more than two standard deviations from the average for their age and sex; this indicated that their growth was normal without sex steroid therapy. Sex steroid replacement therapy was begun when puberty would normally occur; this resulted in continued normal growth. The final adult heights of these patients approximated the heights of their parents. These results indicate that deficiency of sex steroids in children who lack functional gonads is not responsible for growth failure. The data have implications for the treatment of girls with Turner syndrome. In these girls, it is recommended that estrogen treatment not begin until the chronological age at which puberty normally begins. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Physiological aspects, Growth (Physiology), Child development deviations, Developmental disabilities, Steroid hormones, Turner syndrome

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The use of anabolic steroids in high school students

Article Abstract:

The use of anabolic steroids by professional and college athletes has been widely publicized, as have the serious side effects of these drugs. There has been little research on the use of anabolic steroids by adolescents. To assess the extent of this problem, a survey was conducted of 2,113 high school students. Of the total group, 4.4 percent admitted to having used steroids (6.5 percent male and 2.5 percent female students). Of those who were sports participants, 5.5 percent used steroids, compared with 2.4 percent of non-sports participants. When just athletes were examined, usage was 6.6 percent for males and 3.9 percent for females. Because steroids are used to increase strength, it was not surprising that the highest degree of use was among football players (9.3 percent) and wrestlers (12.2 percent). Students learned of steroids primarily through television; friends, 'muscle magazines', and physicians were other sources. Steroids were most frequently obtained from friends, which implies that they were obtained illegally. The next most common source of steroids was physicians. This raises the question of whether doctors are adequately informed of the serious side effects of these drugs. If they are knowledgeable, ethical questions are raised concerning the prescribing of steroids to teenagers for improved athletic performance or appearance. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, High school students, Teenagers, Youth, Drug use, Drugs and athletes, Anabolic steroids

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