A recent study published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health reveals a connection between an earlier age at menarche and an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes among women below the age of 65. The study, conducted by Maria P. Santos and colleagues from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, analyzed data from 17,377 women aged 20 to 65 participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018.
Of the women surveyed, 10.2% reported having type 2 diabetes. Adjusting for various factors such as age, race/ethnicity, education, parity, menopause status, family history of diabetes, smoking status, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and body mass index, the study found a significant association between an earlier age at menarche and type 2 diabetes when compared to a median age at menarche of 13 years.
Moreover, the research demonstrated that an earlier age at menarche among women with diabetes was linked to an increased risk of stroke, although it did not show a significant association with total cardiovascular disease in adjusted analyses. Notably, an extremely early age at menarche, defined as 10 years and younger, was significantly associated with an elevated risk of stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 2.66).
The authors of the study suggest that these findings support the idea of incorporating age at menarche into early-life strategies aimed at preventing diabetes and the progression of diabetes-related complications. Recognizing the potential implications of early menarche could contribute to more targeted preventive measures in the field of women’s health.
