Table 3.
Generalized Estimating Equation Models of the Association between Testosterone and Average Buccal Telomere Lengtha (TL) in children, Stratified by Sex (N=70)
| Beta (SE) * | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | Acute Testosterone Peak | Acute Testosterone Recovery | Acute Testosterone Reactivity | |||
| Males | Females | Males | Females | Males | Females | |
| Testosterone | −0.047 (0.015)** | −0.003 (0.027) | −0.225 (0.053)** | 0.017 (0.088) | −0.81 (0.25)** | −0.052 (0.47) |
| Mother's Education | −0.004 (0.004) | 0.005 (0.005) | −0.003 (0.005) | 0.005 (0.005) | −0.004 (0.004) | 0.005 (0.005) |
| Puberty Stageb | −0.054 (0.011)** | −0.031 (0.008)** | −0.060 (0.009)** | −0.030 (0.008)** | −0.054 (0.011)** | −0.031 (0.008)** |
| BMI | −0.003 (0.002) | −0.001 (0.002) | −0.003 (0.001) | −0.001 (0.002) | −0.003 (0.002) | −0.001 (0.002) |
| Diurnal Testosterone | 0.043 (0.015** | −0.009 (0.029) | 0.018(0.013) | −0.012 (0.023) | 0.043 (0.015)+ | −0.010 (0.029) |
*
P-value < 0.05
**
P-value < 0.01
a
Average buccal cell telomere length as represented by the telomere repeat copy number to single gene (albumin) copy number (T/S) ratio corrected for parental age at conception and child age when DNA collected.
b
Puberty stage classifies participants into one of five pubertal status categories based on level of development reported on the three relevant indices of pubertal change. For females, staging is based on pubic hair growth, breast development, and menarche. For males staging is based on development of pubic hair, facial hair and voice change.