Early menstruation has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes
New York: According to one study, early menstruation is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, but body mass index (BMI) may mediate this link.
According to the study published in the journal Menopause, each year of delayed menarche age was associated with a 6% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.
“An earlier onset of menstruation (14 years) was associated with diabetes later in life, which was likely driven by adult BMI (body mass index),” said Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
“Other factors such as childhood nutrition and BMI may also play a role in this association,” Faubion added.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 has become one of the most common diseases in the world. It affected nearly 8.8 percent of people aged 20 to 79 worldwide in 2015, and it is expected to affect 10.4 percent by 2040. With so many people affected, it is not surprising that so much research has been devoted to identifying disease determinants in order to prevent its progression. Several lifestyle and environmental factors have already been confirmed, but there is growing evidence pointing to some physiologic factors as well. This new study of over 15,000 postmenopausal women in China discovered that women who start menstruating at a younger age have a higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.
