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3w ago

Study Links Childhood Diet to Menarche Timing, Independent of BMI

Research shows healthier diets delay first menstruation, while inflammatory diets accelerate it, with potential long-term health implications.

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Overview

  • A study published in *Human Reproduction* found that girls with healthier diets, measured using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), experience later onset of menarche, independent of BMI and height.
  • Conversely, girls with highly inflammatory diets, assessed via the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), were 15% more likely to begin menstruation earlier.
  • Earlier menarche is linked to increased risks of chronic conditions like breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease later in life.
  • The study followed over 7,500 U.S. girls from the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) cohort, collecting prospective dietary and health data between 1996 and 2008.
  • Researchers emphasize the importance of evidence-based, healthy school meal programs to support adolescent health and plan to explore links between early diet and adult menstrual characteristics.