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DHEAS patterning across childhood in three sub-Saharan populations: Associations with age, sex, ethnicity, and cortisol.

Authors :
Helfrecht C
Hagen EH
DeAvila D
Bernstein RM
Dira SJ
Meehan CL
Source :
American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council [Am J Hum Biol] 2018 Mar; Vol. 30 (2). Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Dec 11.
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

Objectives: Hormones have many roles in human ontogeny, including the timing of life history 'switch points' across development. Limited hormonal data exist from non-Western children, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the diversity of life history patterning. This cross-sectional study examines dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) production in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, and cortisol concentrations, as well as average age of adrenarche, among Aka and Ngandu children of the Central African Republic and Sidama children of Ethiopia.<br />Methods: Hair was collected from 480 children (160 per population) aged 3-18 years old. These samples were analyzed for DHEAS and cortisol concentrations using ELISAs. A generalized additive model was used to examine DHEAS patterning in relation to age, sex, cortisol, and ethnicity. The derivative of DHEAS as a function of age was used to identify average age of adrenarche in each population.<br />Results: DHEAS patterning in these three populations is distinct from Euro-American patterns of production. In all three groups, the population-level age at adrenarche onset occurs slightly later than Euro-American averages, with both Central African populations experiencing a later onset than the Ethiopian population.<br />Conclusions: DHEAS patterns and age at adrenarche vary across cultures, perhaps indicating adaptive life history responses in diverse eco-cultural environments. Delayed involution of the fetal zone and DHEAS patterning may offer both cognitive protection and immune defense in high-risk, nutritionally-poor environments. Additional research in the majority world is essential to improving our understanding of the diversity of hormonal development and timing of 'switch points' in life history trajectories.<br /> (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1520-6300
Volume :
30
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
29226590
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23090