5α-Reductase and 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity in Prepubertal Hispanic Girls with Premature Adrenarche

The study investigated whether alterations in 5 alpha-reductase and 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities were present in 17 prepubertal Hispanic girls with premature adrenarche compared to 7 controls. The researchers found no differences in these enzyme activities or total cortisol metabolites between the two groups, even after controlling for age and body mass index Z-score. The conclusion was that these enzyme activities did not contribute to early pubic hair development in the studied group of girls.