OBJECTIVEdEarly pubertal onset in females is associated with increased risk for adult obesity and cardiovascular disease, but whether this relationship is independent of preceding childhood growth events is unclear. Furthermore, the association between male puberty and adult
disease remains unknown. To clarify the link between puberty and adult health, we evaluated the
relationship between pubertal timing and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease in both males and females from a large, prospective, and randomly ascertained birth
cohort from Northern Finland.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSdPubertal timing was estimated based on pubertal height growth in 5,058 subjects (2,417 males and 2,641 females), and the relationship
between puberty and body weight, glucose and lipid homeostasis, and blood pressure at age 31
years was evaluated with linear regression modeling.
RESULTSdEarlier pubertal timing associated with higher adult BMI, fasting insulin, diastolic
blood pressure, and decreased HDL cholesterol in both sexes (P , 0.002) and with higher total
serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in males. The association with BMI and
diastolic blood pressure remained statistically significant in both sexes, as did the association
with insulin levels and HDL cholesterol concentrations in males after adjusting for covariates
reflecting both fetal and childhood growth including childhood BMI.
CONCLUSIONSdWe demonstrate independent association between earlier pubertal timing and adult metabolic syndrome-related derangements both in males and females. The connection emphasizes that the mechanisms advancing puberty may also contribute to adult
metabolic disorders.