Kuopio Puberty and Growth -study (KuPuGro)

Puberty is a transitional phase from childhood to adulthood. It begins when the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is activated, leading to increased production of sex hormones. Prior to the onset of puberty, the adrenal cortex matures and activates during the adrenarche phase, producing also sex hormones that contribute to physical development and prepare the body for the initiation of puberty. There is considerable

variability in the timing of adrenarche and puberty, influenced by genetic factors as well as numerous environmental factors such as nutrition and physical activity.

The primary objectives of this study are:

1. To create new national screening rules and guidelines for assessing pubertal development and growth during puberty.

2. To investigate the relationship between adrenarche and puberty, as well as the factors influencing these physiological processes.

3. To determine the effects of abnormal timing of adrenarche and puberty on children’s long-term health.

The study will invite all children born between 2018 and 2020 in the Pohjois-Savo region, with the aim of forming a study cohort of approximately 500–1000 children. The first study visit (at approximately age 6) and the final visit (at approximately age 16–18) will take place at the facilities of the University of Eastern Finland, while the follow-up visits in between will be conducted annually at the children’s own schools. Blood samples will only be collected at the beginning and end of the study, while non-invasive methods, such as hair, saliva, and urine samples, will be used during the annual school visits. Background information on the parents and children, including lifestyle and health, will be collected using electronic questionnaires.

The study will utilize advanced analytical methods and generate new knowledge about the connections between adrenarche, puberty, and overall health. The findings will help design better preventive and health-promoting measures.