Age of pubertal onset affects the intensity and duration of pubertal growth peak but not final height

This paper analyzed the intensity and duration of height growth during pube rty in boys and girls in relation to rhythm of maturation. A longitudinal c linical follow-up between ages of 10 and 20 years, was carried out in a sam ple of 251 children grouped according to age at pubertal onset: boys (genit al stage 2) at the ages of 11 (n = 28), 12(n = 38), 13 (n = 42), and 14 (n = 27); and girls (breast stage 2) at the ages of 10 (n = 37), 11 (n = 47), 12 (n = 19), and 13(n = 13). Height was measured annually. Testicular volum e and genital development were assessed in boys, and breast development was assessed in girls. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) in heigh t at the age of pubertal onset among maturity groups. Late maturers were ta ller than early maturers (r = 0.49, P < 0.001 for girls; r = 0.38, P < 0.00 1 for boys). However, final heights did not differ according to age of onse t in either sex. In boys, later onset of puberty was associated with a smal ler pubertal height gain (r = -0.60, P < 0.001) and a shorter period of pub ertal growth (r = -0.61, P < 0.001), Equally in girls, earlier onset of pub erty was associated with a greater pubertal height gain(r = -0.68, P < 0.00 1) and a longer period of pubertal growth (r = -0.59, P < 0.001). In conclu sion, age of pubertal onset does not affect final height attained in both s exes, since there is an inverse compensatory phenomenon in both sexes betwe en height at pubertal onset and the intensity and duration of pubertal grow th. <(c)> 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.