• PMID: 26287961
• Gene Name: IGF1
• Condition: Gynecomastia
• Association: Gynecomastia is frequent in pubertal boys. Increased IGF-1 levels and pubertal growth appear to be associated, whereas changes in estrogen to testosterone ratio seem negligible.
• Population size: 106
• Population details: 106 (52 boys developed gynecomastia )
• Age: 5.8-16.4 years
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: FSH, LH,SHBG, inhibin B, AMH
• Other associated phenotypes: Gynecomastia

A Longitudinal Study of Growth, Sex Steroids, and IGF-1 in Boys With Physiological Gynecomastia

Mieritz MG, Rakêt LL, Hagen CP, Nielsen JE, Talman ML, Petersen JH, Sommer SH, Main KM, Jørgensen N, Juul A.

CONTEXT: Physiological gynecomastia is common and affects a large proportion of otherwise healthy adolescent boys. It is thought to be caused by an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, although this is rarely evident in analyses of serum. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the frequency of physiological gynecomastia and to determine possible etiological factors (eg, auxology and serum hormone levels) in a longitudinal setup. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective cohort study of 106 healthy Danish boys (5.8-16.4 years) participated in the longitudinal part of the COPENHAGEN Puberty Study. The boys were examined every 6 months during an 8-year follow-up. Median number of examinations was 10 (2-15). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were analyzed for FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone, IGF-1, and IGF binding protein-3 by immunoassays. Auxological parameters, pubertal development, and the presence of gynecomastia were evaluated at each visit. RESULTS: Fifty-two of 106 boys (49%) developed gynecomastia, of which 10 (19%) presented with intermittent gynecomastia. Boys with physiological gynecomastia reached peak height velocity at a significantly younger age than boys who did not develop gynecomastia (13.5 versus 13.9 years, P = .027), and they had significantly higher serum levels of IGF-1 (P = .000), estradiol (P = .013), free testosterone (P < .001), and FSH (P = .030) during pubertal transition. However, no differences in serum LH or in the estradiol to testosterone ratio were found. CONCLUSIONS: Gynecomastia is frequent in pubertal boys. Increased IGF-1 levels and pubertal growth appear to be associated, whereas changes in estrogen to testosterone ratio seem negligible. FAU - Mieritz, Mikkel G AU - Mieritz MG AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Rakêt, Lars L AU - Rakêt LL AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Hagen, Casper P AU - Hagen CP AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Nielsen, John E AU - Nielsen JE AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Talman, Maj-Lis M AU - Talman ML AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Petersen, Jørgen H AU - Petersen JH AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Sommer, Stefan H AU - Sommer SH AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Main, Katharina M AU - Main KM AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. FAU - Jørgensen, Niels AU - Jørgensen N AD - Department of Growth and Reproduction (M.M., C.P.H., J.E.N., K.M.M., N.J., A.J.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Mathematical Sciences (L.L.R.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pathology (M.-L.M.T.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biostatistics (J.H.P.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Computer Science (S.H.S.), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.