Determinants of age at menarche in the UK: analyses from the Breakthrough Generations Study

作者：Morris D H^*; Jones M E; Schoemaker M J; Ashworth A; Swerdlow A J

来源：British Journal of Cancer, 2010, 103(11): 1760-1764.

DOI：10.1038/sj.bjc.6605978

• diet
• epidemiology
• exercise
• growth
• menarche
• puberty

BACKGROUND: Early menarche increases breast cancer risk but, aside from weight, information on its determinants is limited.
METHODS: Age at menarche data were collected retrospectively by questionnaire from 81 606 women aged 16-98, resident in the UK and participating in the Breakthrough Generations Study.
RESULTS: Menarche occurred earlier in women who had a low birthweight (P(trend)<0.001), were singletons (P<0.001), had prenatal exposure to pre-eclampsia (P<0.001) or maternal smoking (P = 0.01), were not breastfed (P(trend) = 0.03), were non-white (P<0.001), were heavy (P(trend)<0.001) or tall (P(trend)<0.001) compared with their peers at age 7 and exercised little as a child (P(trend)<0.001). Menarcheal age increased with number of siblings (P<0.001) independently of birth order, and had an inverse association with birth order after adjustment for sibship size (P<0.001). In a multivariate model, birthweight, ethnicity, weight, height, exercise, sibship size and birth order remained significant, and maternal age at birth became significant (positive association, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Age at menarche was influenced by both pre- and post-natal factors, and these factors may affect breast cancer risk through this route. British Journal of Cancer (2010) 103, 1760-1764. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605978 www.bjcancer.

• 出版日期2010-11-23