Do children develop precocious puberty from eating scallops?
My child really loves scallops. Recently, I noticed that he has been growing faster than his peers, and his voice is also getting deeper. Could this be caused by eating scallops, leading to precocious puberty?
Doctor's answer (1)
Children eating scallops generally does not cause precocious puberty.
Scallops are a type of seafood rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. They also contain a certain amount of natural hormones. However, these natural hormones differ in structure from human sex hormones and are present in very low quantities, insufficient to cause noticeable changes in human hormone levels, let alone directly lead to precocious puberty. Therefore, normal consumption of scallops does not increase the risk of precocious puberty in children.
However, excessive consumption of scallops may cause indigestion. Additionally, some children may be allergic to seafood, including scallops. When trying scallops for the first time, parents should closely monitor the child's physical reaction and seek medical attention promptly if allergic symptoms occur. Moreover, scallops should be thoroughly cooked before consumption to kill any possible parasites and bacteria, ensuring food safety.
In daily diets, parents are advised to appropriately balance children's meals, control portion sizes, and avoid excessive consumption of any single food item to ensure the child's comprehensive and healthy development.
