Objective: To investigate association between the consumption of grain and tubers and pubertal development of children and adolescents in Chengdu city.
Methods: Cross-sectional valid data from 1902 children and adolescents aged 7 - 18 years in Chengdu were analyzed. Based on food frequency questionnaire, the daily consumption of grain and tubers was calculated. Measurements of pubertal development were conducted among boys/girls.
Results: The mean age of spermarche was 12.8, and that of menarche was 12.3. Boys who had spermarche consumed more grain than those had not yet (P < 0.0001), while girls who had menarche consumed less (P < 0.01). Consumption of grain was positively associated with pubertal development among boys (P < 0.0001). Both consumption of grain and tubers were associated with pubertal development among girls (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Consumption of grain and tubers seem to be correlated with pubertal development among children and adolescents in Chengdu, and the association was not the same in each gender.