Plasma albumin, parasitic infection and pubertal development in Egyptian boys.

Pubertal stage was assessed in 453 Egyptian boys aged from nine to 17 years. Weights and albumin concentrations were measured and parasites identified from stool samples. The mean age to reach each stage of puberty was significantly delayed in the presence of low albumin levels and parasites. The magnitude of the delay was greater for genital stage 2 than for later stages. Weight was also lower in children with reduced albumin concentration or parasites. Among children of the same age, weight and albumin were positively correlated (P less than 0.001), suggesting that albumin status is involved in the timing of puberty.