Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40390455›Full record

ArticleClinical endocrinology2025

Salivary Testosterone, Androstenedione and 11-Oxygenated 19-Carbon Concentrations Differ by Age and Sex in Children.

Julie Park, Andrew Titman, Orla Bright, Silothabo Dliso, Alena Shantsila, Gregory Y H Lip, Jo Adaway, Brian Keevil, Daniel B Hawcutt, Joanne Blair

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Julie ParkDepartment of Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation trust, Liverpool, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3545-6126
Andrew TitmanSchool of Mathematical Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Orla BrightDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Silothabo DlisoLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Alena ShantsilaLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Gregory Y H LipLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Jo AdawayClinical Biochemistry Department, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Brian KeevilClinical Biochemistry Department, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Daniel B HawcuttDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8120-6507
Joanne BlairDepartment of Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation trust, Liverpool, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3128-5574

Funding

This is independent research funded by the Hugh Greenwood Legacy Fund and carried out at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility (CRF).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe diagnosis and management of childhood adrenal disorders is challenging. Clinical markers of hormone excess or deficiency may take months to manifest, and traditional biomarkers correlate only partially with clinical outcomes. Recent work has indicated that 11 oxygenated 19-carbon (11oxC19) steroids may be useful in the assessment of adrenal function. 11oxC19 steroids, testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A4), can be measured in saliva, but very little is known about these hormones in healthy children.

methodsParticipants collected saliva samples 30 min after waking and every 2 h until bedtime. Samples were analysed for T, A4, 11 ketotestosterone (11KT) and 11βhydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

resultsFifty-two (30 male) healthy children aged 10.4 ± 3.9 (5.0-17.5) participated. Median height SDS was 0.4 (IQR -0.3 to 1.01) and median BMI SDS was 0.3 (IQR -0.2 to 1.3). All steroids showed a diurnal rhythm, with all hormones decreasing in measured concentration at time points that are 30 min after waking. Salivary T was higher in postpubertal children, particularly boys (p < 0.001). Salivary A4 was lower in boys compared to girls (p = 0.009) and did not differ with pubertal development. 11KT increased with age (p < 0.001) and concentrations were similar between boys and girls. 11OHA4 reduced in concentration with age (p = 0.03) and was below detectable limits after the early morning peak in both sexes.

conclusionFor the first time we describe the physiological profile of 11KT and 11OHA4 in children. Further data are required to establish reference ranges, which should consider age, sex, pubertal status and time of sampling.

Indexed as

AndrostenedioneSalivaTestosteroneAdolescentAge FactorsChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsTandem Mass SpectrometryAndrostenedioneTestosterone11‐oxygenated 19‐carbon steroidsadrenalandrogenbiomarkerpaediatricsalivasteroid

Identifiers

PMID40390455
PMCPMC12319302

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.