Aim
To study how pubertal timing associates with cardiometabolic measures in puberty and young adulthood.

Methods
Cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometry and pubertal development were regularly studied in STRIP study subjects until age 26 years. The study participants were divided into tertiles (early, average, and late) according to the age at the beginning of breast/testicular growth, menarche in females, and end of testicular growth in males. Differences in cardiometabolic variables between tertiles were analysed using one-way ANOVA.

Results
Earlier breast development was associated with higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP) in adulthood compared to the late group. Earlier age at menarche was associated with higher BMI and WC in adulthood. Earlier beginning of testicular enlargement was associated with higher insulin and insulin resistance at 26 years when compared to the late group. Earlier end of testicular growth tended to have higher insulin values and insulin resistance at 26 years than the average group.

Conclusions
Early pubertal development in females is associated with higher BMI and WC. In males, early pubertal development is associated with increased insulin levels and insulin resistance. More research is needed to study whether these metabolic differences build up a cumulative burden.

Summary

• Early puberty has been associated with increased cardiometabolic risk later in life, but it remains unclear when these cardiometabolic changes can be seen.
• Earlier puberty in females is associated with higher body mass index and waist circumference before, during, and after puberty, while in males, earlier puberty is associated with higher insulin resistance in adulthood.
• These findings improve our understanding of how pubertal timing may reflect later disease burden.