Sweeteners and puberty: investigating genetic and dietary influences on central precocious puberty.

Abstract

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is characterized by the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics caused by premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. CPP can result in short stature, reproductive health complications, and psychosocial challenges. The rising prevalence of CPP underscores the urgency of investigating the genetic and dietary factors that influence its development to reduce long-term health and developmental effects. CPP was diagnosed in 481 participants. Aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars were significantly linked to increased CPP risk, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals. A dose-dependent relationship was also identified, with higher sweetener intake associated with a greater risk of CPP. Gender-specific effects were also discovered, with sucralose being strongly associated with CPP in boys and glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugar all being strongly associated with CPP in girls. The effects of the interaction between genetic predisposition and sweetener intake on this risk were non-significant. Sweetener consumption and high genetic predisposition independently increase the risk of CPP. Therefore, combining genetic and dietary assessments can guide prevention strategies for at-risk children, reducing the long-term health effects of early puberty.