A comparison of the growth status, level of blood glucose, and lipid metabolism in small for gestational age and appropriate for gestational age girls with central precocious puberty: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: To compare the physical development status, level of blood glucose and lipid metabolism in small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) groups with central precocious puberty (CPP). METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Three hundred and twenty-two girls with CPP were divided into the AGA group (304 cases) and the SGA group (18 cases). Physical index such as height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), as well as sex hormones, adrenal androgens, blood lipid levels, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Height, weight, and BMI in the SGA group were lower than those in the AGA group (P<0.05). The level of LH/FSH, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA and androstenedione had no significant difference between the SGA group and AGA group (P>0.05). The fasting blood glucose, insulin level, HOMA-IR, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the average level of triglycerides were similar between these two groups (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) between the two groups (P<0.05). However, the blood lipids and blood glucose in both groups were within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The height, weight, BMI, serum cholesterol and LDL of girls in SGA with CPP were significantly lower than that of those girls born AGA.