Added hormones, especially via dairy and meat, have been linked to early onset puberty, as these hormones are designed to stimulate growth in cattle and sheep. The hormone responsible for female development, estrogen, is often used in synthetic form, but the use of synthesized estrogen has been discontinued after it was found to cause vaginal cancer. In its place, a synthesized compound called zeranol, which stimulates estrogen production and growth, is used as an implant. Estrogen intake in one’s surroundings, as a result of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, has also been studied as a cause of early puberty. Over 18 billion pounds of phthalates are used annually and can enter the environment and food chain, resulting in increased estrogen levels. Although these effects seem to only affect a small group of the population, we can expect hormones and EDCs to increase in our environment as a result of manufacturing practices.
The Causes of Early Female Puberty
In recent years, experts have noted a decline in the starting age of puberty for females. Previously, puberty in females typically began at age eight and was marked by breast development, but now a significant number of girls experience puberty before this age. This trend is worrying for many reasons.
One of the concerns associated with early puberty is the development of psychosocial problems, including emotional and behavioral issues. Additionally, children who undergo puberty at a younger age are at risk of early bone maturation, which can lead to short stature. Moreover, women who experience early puberty have a higher risk of breast cancer later in life, according to a 2020 study.
Several factors can induce early development in children, including stress, environment, nutrition, and obesity. These factors often overlap in various ways. For example, early menstruation is typically caused by excessive caloric intake, leading to an accumulation of body fat. This, in turn, induces the release of leptin, a hormone that helps maintain healthy weight and signals the brain to begin puberty onset.
Interestingly, leptin’s two seemingly unrelated pathways can be linked through evolution. Mammals reach childbearing capability at a specific weight threshold, which explains why the hormone that maintains healthy weight could also induce sexual maturation. Furthermore, research has shown that a high intake of animal protein can lead to an earlier onset of puberty by about seven months. Animal protein is correlated with an increase in insulin-like growth factor 1 secretion, which causes the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, a factor for beginning puberty.
Conversely, a high intake of vegetable protein has been linked with a delay in puberty onset by approximately seven months. Many vegetables have antiestrogenic effects, which can reduce fertility and potentially prevent early-onset puberty. Estrogen is the hormone responsible for regulating the menstrual and reproductive cycles in women and developing female sexual characteristics.
In conclusion, several factors can contribute to the early onset of puberty in females, including stress, environment, nutrition, and obesity. These factors often interact in complex ways, leading to a decline in the age at which puberty begins. Understanding the causes of early puberty is crucial for protecting the health and well-being of young girls, and it requires further research to uncover additional contributing factors.
Hormones and Early Puberty: The Impact of Added Hormones
Over the years, there has been a growing interest in the impact of added hormones, especially in dairy and meat, on the onset of puberty. There have been several documented cases of early onset puberty linked to farming and manufacturing practices. For example, in 2010, infants aged four to fifteen months in Hong Kong were found to have budding breasts as a result of an illegal increase in estrogen and progesterone in a particular brand of baby formula.
Estrogen is the primary female development hormone. Researchers discovered in the 1930s that this hormone could influence the growth rate of cattle and poultry, leading to synthesized estrogen being created in the 1950s. However, the use of the manufactured hormone, called diethylstilbestrol, was discontinued in the 1970s after it was found to cause vaginal cancer.
Today, hormones with similar impacts are developed using different methods. A synthesized compound called zeranol is used as an implant to stimulate estrogen production and growth in cattle and sheep. Zeranol has a high affinity for estrogen receptors and is believed to be responsible for the early onset of puberty in some girls.
Aside from added hormones in food products, estrogen intake from the environment has also been linked to early onset puberty. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are artificial estrogenic chemicals that have been released into the environment over the last 60 years. One of the most common EDCs is phthalates, which are used in plastics. Over 18 billion pounds of phthalates are used annually, causing them to enter the environment and food chain.
Research has shown that the use of plastic cups consistently can increase estrogen levels in females, although not enough to cause early onset puberty, according to current research. However, as manufacturing practices continue to develop, we can expect more hormones and EDCs to enter our environment, with the potential to cause health problems.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
