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K. Allvin, C. Ankarberg-Lindgren, H. Fors, J. Dahlgren, Elevated Serum Levels of Estradiol, Dihydrotestosterone, and Inhibin B in Adult Males Born Small for Gestational Age, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 93, Issue 4, 1 April 2008, Pages 1464–1469, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-1743
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Abstract
Context: Prenatal growth restriction may affect future fertility in both females and males. Studies have shown that growth-retarded male rats have different sexual behavior and disturbed steroidogenesis.
Objective: We hypothesized that adult human males born small for gestational age (SGA) have an altered sex hormone profile.
Design, Setting, and Patients: Twenty-five adult males born SGA with median birth weight −2.2 sd scores (SDS) and birth length −2.4 SDS were studied. Median age was 23.1 yr and final height −0.5 SDS. They were compared with 44 male controls with median age 20.5 yr and final height 0.4 SDS.
Main Outcome Measure: The primary outcome before the study started was 17β-estradiol (E2) levels in SGA males.
Results: The SGA group showed significantly higher median levels of E2, 17.9 pg/ml (P < 0.001), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 0.543 ng/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 12.6 pg/ml and 0.423 ng/ml, respectively. Testosterone (T) levels did not differ between groups. E2 to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = −0.40, P < 0.01) and birth length (r = −0.44, P < 0.001). DHT to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = −0.51, P < 0.001) and birth length (r = −0.38, P < 0.01). Males born SGA also had significantly higher median levels of inhibin B, 164 pg/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 137 pg/ml. Inhibin B correlated negatively to birth length (r = −0.34, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: SGA males of normal stature have higher levels of E2, DHT, and inhibin B than controls, indicating a disturbed steroid synthesis or metabolism. Aromatase activity, calculated as E2 to T ratio, and 5α-reductase activity, calculated as DHT to T ratio, is negatively correlated to size at birth.
