[The influence of psychosocial deprivation and body composition on plasma gonadotrophins in children and adolescents].

The plasma concentrations of FSH and LH were measured in 250 boys with psychosocial deprivation (PSD) aged 9.0-15.9 years and in 357 clinically healthy boys of the same age. The results were correlated with chronological age (CA), weight, height and calculated lean body mass (LBM) and total body fat (TBT). On a group basis, PSD boys had the clinical onset of puberty at 13.9 years, while healthy boys did so at 11.9 years. In both groups, the mean weights at time of initiation of the adolescent growth spurt and time of peak velocity of weight gain were very close to each other and the same phenomenon was true for their heights and the amount of LBM. Based on CA mean plasma FSH concentrations in PSD boys and a steep rise two years later than in healthy boys; however, when analyzed as a function of body weight, height or LBM, no such difference emerged. On the other hand, mean plasma LH concentrations in PSD boys were higher than in healthy boys only up to 12.9 years, 42.9 kg of body weight, a height of 142.0 cms and LBM of 32.0 kg; however, no steep rise in plasma LH was observed in contrast to healthy boys. No correlations was observed between TBF and plasma gonadotropins. Therefore, although on the basis of CA, PSD boys had a delayed onset in plasma gonadotropins changes, this occurred in association with the attainment of similar body weight, height and LBM as in healthy boys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)