Early Menstruation Linked to Higher Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study led by Sylvia Ray, a professor of epidemiology at Tulane University Graduate School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, has revealed alarming findings regarding the potential health risks associated with early menstruation in women.
Key Findings
The research, which surveyed 17,377 women aged 20 and older, found that those who began menstruating before the age of 13 may face an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Of the participants, 1,773 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the survey period. Shockingly, 205 of these women also developed cardiovascular disease.
Impact of Early Menstruation
The study revealed that women who began menstruating prior to the age of 13 had a significantly higher incidence of diabetes. Specifically, the risk was found to be 32% higher for those with a menarche age of 10 or younger, 14% higher at age 11, and 29% higher at age 12.
Additional Risks
For women with diabetes, the study also found that early menstruation was associated with an increased risk of stroke. Compared to those who had their menarche at age 13, the risk of stroke was more than twice as high for women who started menstruating at 10 years or younger, 81% higher at age 11, 32% higher at age 12, and 15% higher at age 14.
Possible Explanations
The research team believes that early menstruation may lead to a longer period of exposure to circulating estrogen, which in turn could increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. These findings, which take into account various relevant factors such as age, race, education level, and lifestyle habits, highlight the need for further research into the long-term health implications of early menarche.
The results of the study were recently published in the latest issue of BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.
A study showed that the risk of diabetes is 32% higher if the age of menarche is 10 years or younger, 14% higher at 11 years, and 29% higher at 12 years. / Shutterstock
Research has shown that women who start menstruating before the age of 13 may have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.
A research team led by Sylvia Ray, professor of epidemiology at Tulane University Graduate School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, surveyed 17,377 women (20) with information on age at menarche from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (1999-). 2018. HealthDay News reported on the 7th (local time) that this fact was revealed as a result of analyzing data on people (~65 years old).
Of these, 1,773 (10%) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the survey period. Among them, 205 (11.5%) also developed cardiovascular disease.
The research team divided their menarche age into 10 years or younger, 11 years, 12 years, 13 years, 14 years, and 15 years or older, and then compared and analyzed their rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Women who started menstruating before the age of 13 were found to have a higher incidence of diabetes than women who started menstruating at age 13.
The risk of diabetes was 32% higher at a menarche age of 10 or younger, 14% higher at age 11, and 29% higher at age 12.
For diabetic women, the risk of stroke was more than twice as high if the age of menarche was 10 years or younger, 81% higher at 11 years, 32% higher at 12 years, and 15% higher at 14 years old.
The research team said these results take into account other relevant variables such as age, race, level of education, maternity, menopause, family history of diabetes, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and weight.
The research team speculated that this may be because early menarche leads to a longer period of exposure to circulating estrogen, which can increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
The results of this study were published in the latest issue of BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health (Seoul = Yonhap News)
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