Salivary androgens in adolescence and their value as a marker of puberty: results from the SCAMP cohort

Supitcha Patjamontri; Alexander Spiers; Rachel B Smith; Chen Shen; Jo Adaway; Brian G Keevil; Mireille B Toledano; S Faisal Ahmed

doi:10.1530/EC-23-0084

Endocrine Connections (Nov 2023)

Salivary androgens in adolescence and their value as a marker of puberty: results from the SCAMP cohort

Supitcha Patjamontri,
Alexander Spiers,
Rachel B Smith,
Chen Shen,
Jo Adaway,
Brian G Keevil,
Mireille B Toledano,
S Faisal Ahmed

Affiliations

Supitcha Patjamontri: Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Alexander Spiers: MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
Rachel B Smith: MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Imperial College London, London, UK
Chen Shen: MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
Jo Adaway: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Brian G Keevil: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Mireille B Toledano: MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Chemical Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Imperial College London, London, UK
S Faisal Ahmed: Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-23-0084
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 12
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Context: Salivary androgens represent non-invasive biomarkers of puberty that may have utility in clinical and population studies. Objective: To understand normal age-related variation in salivary sex steroids and demonstrate their correlation to pubertal development in young adolescents. Design, setting and participants: School-based cohort study of 1495 adolescents at two time points for collecting saliva samples approximately 2 years apart. Outcome measures: The saliva samples were analyzed for five androgens (testostero ne, androstenedione (A4), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; in addition, salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and oestradiol (OE2) were analysed by ELISA. The pubertal staging was self-reported using the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS). Results: In 1236 saliva samples from 903 boys aged between 11 and 16 years, salivary androgens except DHEA exhibited an increasing trend with an advancing age (ANOVA, P < 0.001), with salivary testosterone and A4 concentration showing the strongest correlation (r = 0.55, P < 0.001 and r = 0.48, P < 0.001, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of 155 and 63 saliva samples in boys and girls, respectively, morning salivary testosterone concentrations showed the highest correlation with composite PDS scores and voice-breaking category from PDS self-report in boys (r = 0.75, r = 0.67, respectively). In girls, salivary DHEA and OE2 had negligible correlations with age or composite PDS scores. Conclusion: In boys aged 11–16 years, an increase in salivary testosterone and A4 is associated with self-reported pubertal progress and represents valid non-invasive biomarkers of puberty in boys.

Published in Endocrine Connections

ISSN: 2049-3614 (Online)
Publisher: Bioscientifica
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology
Website: http://www.endocrineconnections.com/

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