The metabolic consequences of reaching full reproductive maturity in humans
involve not only growth hormone (GN) and insulin-like growth factor-I, but
also the collaborative interaction of the gonadal sex steroids, Estrogen i
s critical for completing linear growth, It also inhibits bone resorption,
decreases plasma lipid levels and serves as an antiatherosclerotic agent, O
ur studies show that, in low doses, estrogen increases GH production, incre
ases calcium absorption and decreases bone turnover; however, unlike testos
terone, estrogen has no effects as a protein-anabolic agent, at least at th
e whole body level, Studies of selective estrogen suppression, achieved usi
ng a potent aromatase inhibitor, show that estrogen is the main regulator o
f the gonadotropin axis, In boys, selective aromatase blockade may have a r
ole in delaying epiphyseal fusion. Large placebo-controlled trials will be
required to study this effect further.