Pubertal timing, hormones, and body composition among adolescent Turkana males

Bibliographic Data

ID8314864
AuthorsB C Campbell (0000-0003-3497-3735, Boston University, corresponding author), P W Leslie (0000-0001-9856-4602, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Michael A Little (0000-0003-1035-1237, Binghamton University), Kenneth L Campbell (0000-0001-7005-7086, University of Massachusetts Boston)
Year2005
Volume128
Issue4
Pages896-905
Publication date2005-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20204
PMID16110484
OpenAlexW2073080848
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited54

The Turkana, like other East African pastoral groups, are known for their tall adult stature, achieved despite a blunted growth spurt during adolescence and continued growth into the early 20s. To investigate the hormonal mechanisms associated with the pattern of slow and continued adolescent growth, we collected data on hormonal status, height, weight, and trunk skinfolds and ethnographic self‐reports of testicular maturation in a cross‐sectional sample of 35 nomadic and 37 settled Turkana males aged 14–24. Hormonal determinations included testosterone (T), sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in blood, in addition to urinary DHEA. Self‐reports of testicular maturation showed no difference between settled and nomadic subpopulations. However, nomadic boys exhibited significantly higher levels of T, DHEA, and SHBG. Of all the hormones, only SHBG showed a significant relationship with age. Multiple regression models show blood T and SHBG to be significant independent predictors of achieved height as well as weight, controlling for age. Our results suggest that onset of puberty is substantially delayed among Turkana males, and that bioavailable T is related to growth in stature during adolescence. We suggest that SHBG acts to mediate the effects of energy availability on adolescent growth in this energetically limited population. Our findings may also have implications for understanding adolescent growth among Homo erectus . Am J Phys Anthropol 2005., © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Androgen · Biology · Dehydroepiandrosterone · Hormone · Population · Sex hormone-binding globulin · Testosterone (patch) · Endocrinology · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Hormonal and reproductive studies · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Physiology · Sexual Differentiation and Disorders