Age at first menstruation influenced by dietary quality
On average, girls experience their first menstruation between the ages of 12 and 13 – a figure that has steadily declined over the past two centuries. A study published on May 6 in the journal Human Reproduction found that the eating habits of pre-adolescent girls could influence this biological milestone, independent of body mass index (BMI) or height, which are already known to affect the age at first menstruation.
"We observed [...] that a healthier diet was linked to menstrual periods starting at an older age," said Holly Harris, associate professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle who coordinated the study. "As earlier age at menarche is associated with multiple later life outcomes, including higher risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, this may be an important period for trying to reduce the risk of these chronic diseases."
To conduct this research, scientists examined the eating habits of approximately 7,000 American girls aged 9 to 14 who had not yet gone through puberty when they were recruited for the prospective Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) cohort. On average, they had their first period at age 13.1, consistent with data from the general population. At enrollment and then at regular intervals during the follow-up, participants completed a questionnaire on how often they consumed 132 types of foods and drinks – ranging from never or less than once a month to once or several times a week.
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