Zinc nutritional status, androgens, and growth retardation
M. Castro-Magana, P. J. Collipp, S. Y. Chen, T. Cheruvanky and V. T. Maddaiah
Zinc levels were measured in hair and serum of boys with constitutional
growth delay and familial short status and in several boys before and after
oral administration of methyltestosterone. These results show the
following: (1) zinc levels in boys beyond stage 3 of genital development
are significantly higher than in stage 1 and 2; (2) there is a linear
relationship between zinc levels and serum testosterone concentration (up
to 250 ng/dL); and (3) methyltestosterone administration raised the zinc
concentration in serum and hair, especially in boys with constitutional
growth delay. Therefore, increased endogenous production or exogenous
supply of testosterone are associated with increased zinc levels. We
speculate that the relative testosterone deficiency and hypogonadotropism
seen in constitutional growth delay may result in decreased zinc levels,
which in turn could cause a further delay in the appearance of secondary
sexual characteristics and greater growth retardation.
