Assessment of Circulating Sex Steroid Levels in Prepubertal and Pubertal Boys and Girls by a Novel Ultrasensitive Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method

The study utilized an ultrasensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to measure sex steroid hormones in 81 prepubertal children (42 boys) and 48 pubertal children. It found that prepubertal girls had significantly higher levels of estrogens and androgen metabolites compared to boys of the same age. Specifically, 17β-estradiol levels were undetectable or very low in boys, while girls had a median level of 9.6 pmol/liter. Older prepubertal girls also had higher concentrations of androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, and 17β-testosterone. These findings suggested that the higher prepubertal sex steroid levels in girls might contribute to their earlier onset of puberty, including the development of pubic hair.