Menarca anticipated? It could be due to a unhealthy diet

The early age of the first menstruation (called « Menarca ») is predictive of some possible health risks For the future, for example breast cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.

But what does it affect an early menarca (before 12-14 years)? A recent study connects the debut of menstruation to the type of nutrition followed by girls: little healthy diet It would correspond to an early debut of puberty, while a healthy diet would slow down the arrival of the menarca.

And this (it would be the new evidence) net of the body mass index (BMI) or the height of the girls, both factors that have always been associated with early start of the menstrual cycle.

The study

The research on this was conducted by US scientists and published on Human Reproduction. The results come from a large prospective study on over 7,500 girls, aged between 9 and 14, enrolled in Growing up TODAY STUDY (Guts) in the United States in two phases, in 1996 and 2004 followed respectively until 2001 and 2008.
Before the start of the menstrual cycle, the girls compiled questionnaires on their diet at the time of the start of the study and subsequently every 1-3 years.
Their diet was assessed with the comparison towards two consolidated food models: The alternative Healthy Eating Index (Ahei) el ‘Empirical dietary inflammory pattern (EDIP). Ahei assigns more points to healthiest foods (including Full vegetables, legumes and cereals) and less points to the less healthy ones (such as Red meats and worked, trans fats and salt).
EDIP evaluates diets based on the assumption of foods traditionally connected to one greater inflammation (red and processed meat, animal proteins, refined cereals and sugary or high energy content).

The results

The analysis of the data showed that 20% of girls with the highest Ahei score (which therefore followed the healthiest diet) had 8% less likely to have the first menstrual cycle within the following month compared to 20% of girls with the lowest Ahei score.
20% of the participants with the highest EDIP score (with the most inflammatory diet) had 15% more likely to have the first menstrual cycle within the following month compared to 20% with the lowest edition score.
« It is important to underline that these results were independent of the IMC and from the height to demonstrate the importance of a healthy diet regardless of body dimensions»Commented Holly Harris, associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center of Seattle who led the study.

Healthy habits immediately

The researchers believe that these results highlight how rather the type of food consumed by girls during childhood and adolescence to influence the moment of the menarca, rather than the height and the body mass index.
« I believe that our results highlight the need for all children and teenagers to have access to healthy meals and the importance that the breakfasts and school lunches are based on guidelines based on evidence, » Harris concluded.
It has long been known how lifestyles since childhood condition the future health of the generations and this study offers yet another confirmation.