Early menarche is associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in premenopausal Korean women

Menarche age and the risk of diabetes: A cross-sectional study in South-Eastern Iran

Background and Aims

Diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between menarche age and overt diabetes in southeast Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 6094 eligible women between the ages of 35 and 70 participating in the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study. Demographic and background data, fertility, anthropometry, and disease history were collected based on a questionnaire. Menarche age was classified into five categories (under 12 years, 12, 13, 14, 15 years and more). Diabetes is defined as a blood sugar of 126 or more according to the definition by the American Diabetes Association. Data analysis was done using SPSS 26 software. Descriptive analysis was performed with frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation; and analytical analysis using chi-square and logistic regression tests. The significance level in this study was p < 0.05.

Results

The participants' mean age was 49.41 ± 8.88, and the mean age at menarche was 13 ± 1.49. 22.8% (1389 women) of participants with diabetes and 77.2% (4705 women) did not have diabetes. The findings showed that the chance of developing diabetes in women with a menarche age <12 years was significantly higher than in women with a menarche age of 13 years (reference) (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.51). This relationship was significant after adjusting variables such as body mass index, education level, fertility factors, history of diabetes, and reproductive diabetes (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.44, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that young age at menarche may be a risk factor for diabetes in adulthood. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings. However, it is suggested to pay attention to it in diabetes screening so that, if possible, by identifying people at risk and implementing prevention programs, the adverse consequences of diabetes can be reduced.

Separate and combined effects of famine exposure and menarche age on metabolic syndrome among the elderly: a cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have revealed multiple risk factors for metabolic syndrome. However, there are no consistent findings on the association between famine exposure, age at menarche, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study aimed to reveal the individual and combined effects of famine exposure and age at menarche on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among elderly women.

METHODS

Four thousand seven hundred seventy participants between 60 and 93 years of age were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Statistical differences between the baseline characteristics of famine exposure, age at menarche, and metabolic syndrome were evaluated using the t-test, F-test, and Chi-square test. Three multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to test the association between famine exposure, age of menarche, and the odds ratio of metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

Two thousand one hundred ninety-eight (46.08%) participants had metabolic syndrome, while 2572 (53.92%) participants did not. Furthermore, 3068 (64.32%) women reported onset of menarche under 15 years of age, while 1702 (35.68%) women reported onset of menarche above 16 years of age. Regarding the separate association of famine exposure and age of menarche with metabolic syndrome, in model three, the adolescence/adulthood famine exposure group vs. no famine exposure group odds ratio was 2.45 (95% CI 2.02, 2.97), and the older than 16 years vs. younger than 15 years group odds ratio was 1.23 (95% CI 1.09, 1.39), which was the highest odds ratio among the three models. Regarding the combined association of famine exposure and age of menarche with metabolic syndrome, in model three, among the age of menarche ≤ 15 years group, the adolescence/adulthood famine exposure vs. no famine exposure group odds ratio was 2.45 (95% CI: 1.91, 3.14); among the menarche age ≥ 16 years group, the adolescence/adulthood famine exposure stages vs. exposed group odds ratio was 3.27 (95% CI: 2.44, 4.38), which was the highest odds ratio among the three models.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that famine exposure and age at menarche, either separately or in combination, were positively associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among older women.

Alterations in Appetite-Regulating Hormones in Girls with Central Early or Precocious Puberty

The prevalence of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls has increased worldwide and is often associated with obesity in childhood as well as high fat/high glycemic index diets. Evidence suggests that subjects with obesity present with alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. The arcuate and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus are the centers of action of appetite hormones, as well as the location of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the activation of which results in the onset of puberty. This anatomical proximity raises the question of possible alterations in appetite-regulating hormones in patients with CPP. Furthermore, diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation constitutes a probable mechanism of the pathophysiology of CPP, as well as alterations in appetite-regulating hormones in young children. In this article, we summarize the evidence investigating whether girls with CPP present with alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. We present evidence that leptin concentrations are elevated in girls with CPP, ghrelin concentrations are lower in girls with CPP, nesfatin-1 and orexin-A concentrations are elevated among girls with premature thelarche, and insulin concentrations are increased in girls with early menarche.

The association between arterial hypertension and menarcheal age

OBJECTIVE

Menarche, as a milestone of puberty, may have a long-term effect on health. The present study investigated the association of age at menarche with the incidence of arterial hypertension.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 4747 post-menarcheal participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study who met the eligibility criteria were selected. Demographic, lifestyle, reproductive, and anthropometric data, as well as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, were collected. Participants were classified according to their age at menarche: group I: ≤11 years, group II: 12-15 years, and group III: ≥16 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the associations between age at menarche and arterial hypertension outcomes. The generalized estimating equation models were used to compare the trend of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the three groups.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants at baseline was 33.9 (13.0). At the end of the study, 1261 (26.6 %) participants had arterial hypertension. Women in group III had a 2.04-fold higher risk of arterial hypertension than those in group II. The mean changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 29 % (95 % CI: 0.02-0.57) and 16 % (95 % CI: 0.00-0.38) higher for women in group III compared with group II.

CONCLUSIONS

Late menarche could be a risk factor for arterial hypertension, so it is necessary to pay more attention to age at menarche in cardiovascular risk assessment programs.

Relationship between age at menarche and metabolic diseases in Korean postmenopausal women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2018

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. Early menarche may be associated with an increased risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of menarche age and the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We analyzed 4,933 postmenopausal women (mean age: 64.7 years) using the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2016-2018. Subjects were divided into three groups according to menarche age (early menarche: ≤ 12 years (n = 451), reference: 13-16 years (n = 3,421), and late menarche: ≥ 17 years (n = 1,061)). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

Women with an early menarche age were younger, more educated, and had higher income than the other groups (p-value < 0.001). There were no differences in body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels among the three groups. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, early menarche age was significantly associated with the risk of diabetes (OR 1.435, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.069-1.928). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in all subjects was 41.1%. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the OR of metabolic syndrome in the early menarche group was 1.213 (95% CI: 0.971-1.515).

CONCLUSION

The risk of diabetes was 1.43 times higher in postmenopausal Korean women with early menarche. Although the risk of metabolic syndrome was not statistically significant, it showed a tendency to increase in the early menarche group. Our results suggest that age at menarche may be helpful in diabetes risk stratification and early interventions for postmenopausal women.

Association between Age at Menarche and Metabolic Syndrome in Southwest Iran: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Age at menarche affects women's health outcomes and could be a risk factor for some diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). We assessed the association between age at menarche and MetS components in women aged 35-70 in Hoveyzeh, southwest Iran.

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study.

METHODS

This case-control study was conducted on 5830 women aged 35-70 years in the Hoveyzeh cohort study (HCS), a part of the PERSIAN cohort study, from 2016-2018. The case group included women with MetS, while the controls were women without MetS. The MetS is determined based on standard NCEP-ATP III criteria. Data from demographic, socioeconomic, and reproductive history were gathered face-to-face through trained interviews. Moreover, laboratory, anthropometrics, and blood pressure measurements were assayed for participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the association between age at menarche and MetS, with adjustment for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

The mean age at menarche was 12.60 ± 1.76 years old. Urban and rural women differed in age at menarche (12.58 ± 1.71 and 12.63 ± 1.83 years, respectively). The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between MetS and menarche age. The odds of developing MetS were 14% higher in women with menstrual age ≤ 11 years than in other groups.

CONCLUSION

As evidenced by the results of this study, the odds of having MetS were higher in women whose menarche age was ≤ 11 years. Furthermore, the association between MetS components and age groups at menarche was statistically significant.

Impact of menstrual cycle events on bipolar disorder course: a narrative review of current evidence

Several lines of research suggest that reproductive-related hormonal events may affect the course of bipolar disorder in some women. However, data on associations between bipolar disorder and menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause are mixed. This article reviews the literature on the potential effects of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar disorder.A narrative review of published articles on bipolar disorder and menstrual cycle events was conducted. The primary outcome assessed was the impact of menarche, menstrual cycle and menopause on the course of bipolar illness. Databases searched were PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, PsycINFO, Medline, and Cochrane Libraries from inception to August 2021.Twenty-two studies were identified and included in the narrative synthesis. Research suggested that a subset of women with bipolar disorder are vulnerable to the impact of menstrual cycle events. Menarche seems to be associated with age at onset of bipolar illness especially in case of bipolar disorder type I and the specific age at menarche may predict some clinical features of the disorder. Menstrual cycle likely affects the course of bipolar disorder but the pattern of mood variability is not clear. Menopause appears to be not only a period of vulnerability to mood alteration, especially depressive episodes, and impairment of quality of life, but also a potential trigger of bipolar illness onset.The impact of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar disorder is largely understudied. Preliminary evidence suggests that a subset of women with bipolar disorder may have their mood shifts affected by menstrual cycle events, with different patterns depending on the type of bipolar disorder also. Further researches are needed to deep the impact of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar illness.

Trend in age at menarche and its association with body weight, body mass index and non-communicable disease prevalence in Indonesia: evidence from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS)

Background

In western countries, age at menarche (AAM) is nowadays lower than a century ago, coinciding with increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD). This study aimed to determine the time trend in AAM, and its association with BMI and NCD prevalence at later age, in Indonesia.

Methods

We used secondary data of 15,744 women aged 15–65 years from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) conducted in the period 1993 to 2015. Multiple linear regression was applied to determine the association of AAM with BMI, and Poisson regression with robust variance for investigating the association of AAM with NCD prevalence ratios. Models were adjusted for age, and effect modification by wealth status, living area, and region was investigated.

Results

AAM has significantly declined from 14.4 (SD:2.1) years of age in the 1940s to 13.4 y (SD:1.5) in the 1990s. AAM was inversely associated with BMI (β: − 0.30 kg/m², 95%CI: − 0.37, − 0.22) and body weight (β: − 0.67 kg, 95%CI: − 0.75, − 0.54), but was not associated with height. After adjustment for age, AAM was not associated with NCD, i.e. hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, asthma, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, or arthritis. Including BMI in the models did not change the results.

Conclusions

From the 1940s to 1990s, AAM has declined with 1 year in Indonesia. Women with earlier AAM had higher BMI and body weight at later age, but AAM was not associated with NCD prevalence in later life in the Indonesian population. Further longitudinal research is needed to disentangle the direction of causality of the associations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12995-3.

Epidemiological studies of the association between reproductive lifespan characteristics and risk of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension: A systematic review

Some reproductive factors are found to be associated with metabolic outcomes in women; however, little is known about reproductive lifespan characteristics and the mutual effect of age at menarche and age at menopause on cardiovascular risk. This systematic review evaluated reproductive lifespan characteristics and describes the mutual effect of age at menarche and age at menopause on the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension at midlife. PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were screened for studies published up to September 1, 2020. The individual effect estimates were reviewed and synthesized without meta-analysis due to methodological and clinical or conceptual diversity in reported studies. Of the 3033 identified studies, 20 were included in the final synthesis: 6 reported reproductive life span; 12 reported age at menarche, and 7 reported age at menopause. Synthesis of two cohorts, with a median follow-up of 9-11 years, showed that a shorter reproductive lifespan was positively associated with T2DM, yielding 6-15% higher risk of T2DM for a one-year decrease in reproductive lifespan. A few studies also demonstrated that women who experienced early menarche (four of six studies) and early menopause (two of five studies) were positively associated with risk of T2DM. The association between reproductive lifespan and hypertension was unclear due to the limited availability of studies. Our findings suggest that a shorter reproductive lifespan is associated with T2DM risk in postmenopausal women, especially those with early menarche and early menopause. Large cohort studies are needed to assess the association between reproductive lifespan and incident hypertension in midlife.

Central precocious puberty: Recent advances in understanding the aetiology and in the clinical approach

Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The current state of knowledge of the complex neural network acting at the level of the hypothalamus and the GnRH neuron to control puberty onset has expanded, particularly in the context of molecular interactions. Along with these advances, the knowledge of pubertal physiology and pathophysiology has also increased. This review focuses on regulatory abnormalities occurring at the hypothalamic level of the HPG axis to cause CPP. The clinical approach to diagnosis of puberty and pubertal disorders is also reviewed, with a particular focus on aetiologies of CPP. The recent identification of mutations in MKRN3 and DLK1 in familial as well sporadic forms of CPP has changed the state of the art of the approach to patients with CPP. Genetic advances have also had important repercussions beyond consideration of puberty alone. Syndromic disorders and central nervous system lesions associated with CPP are also discussed. If untreated, these conditions may lead to adverse physical, psychosocial and medical outcomes.

Investigating the relationship between insulin resistance and adipose tissue in a randomized Tehrani population

OBJECTIVES

Insulin resistance is the most common metabolic change associated with obesity. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and body composition especially adipose tissue in a randomized Tehrani population.

METHODS

This study used data of 2,160 individuals registered in a cross-sectional study on were randomly selected from among subjects who were referred to nutrition counseling clinic in Tehran, from April 2016 to September 2017. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment formula. The odds ratio (95% CI) was calculated using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The mean age of the men was 39 (±10) and women were 41 (±11) (the age ranged from 20 to 50 years). The risk of increased HOMA-IR was 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01-1.04) for an increase in one percent of Body fat, and 1.03 (95% CI: 1.00-1.05) for an increase in one percent of Trunk fat. Moreover, the odds ratio of FBS for an increase in one unit of Body fat percent and Trunk fat percent increased by 1.05 (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI: 1.03, 1.06]) and 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.08). Also, the risk of increased Fasting Insulin was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.03-1.07) for an increase in one unit of Body fat percent, and 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02-1.08) for an increase in one unit of Trunk fat percent.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study showed that there was a significant relationship between HOMA-IR, Fasting blood sugar, Fasting Insulin, and 2 h Insulin with percent of Body fat, percent of Trunk fat.

Higher poultry consumption was associated with an earlier age at menarche

AIM

To examine the association between meat consumption and earlier age of menarche among schoolgirls in Shanghai.

METHODS

The study randomly selected 1981 schoolgirls aged 6-18 years in Shanghai using a two-stage random sampling design. Information on meat intake was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Menarche age, household income, physical activity and other covariates were obtained by standardised questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between intake of meat and earlier age of menarche. Earlier age of menarche was defined as first menstruation before 12 years of age.

RESULTS

Among the 986 girls who had experienced menarche, 518/986 (52.5%) had earlier age of menarche. After adjusting for body mass index, age, physical activity, sleep, household income and parental education, consumption of poultry was positively associated with risk of earlier age of menarche (P-trend = .03). Girls who never consumed poultry had a lower risk of earlier age of menarche (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.96). Neither the consumption of pork, beef, lamb, processed meat nor total meat consumption was associated with menarche age.

CONCLUSION

Higher consumption of poultry was associated with an earlier age at menarche.

Early menarche and its consequence in Korean female: reducing fructose intake could be one solution

The mean age at menarche (AAM) of Korean females has been rapidly decreasing over the last 50 years; currently, the prevalence of early menarche (<12 years) is 22.3%. Female adolescents who experience early menarche are known to be at greater risk of psychosocial and behavioral problems along with several physical health problems such as menstrual problems. They also tend to achieve a shorter final height and develop obesity. Population-based Korean studies have shown a strong association between early menarche and the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Although the exact mechanism of how early menarche causes cardiometabolic derangement in later adulthood is unknown, childhood obesity and insulin resistance might be major contributors. Recent studies demonstrated that an excessive consumption of fructose might underlie the development of obesity and insulin resistance along with an earlier AAM. A positive association was observed between sugar-sweetened beverages (a major source of fructose) intake and obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic risk in Korean females. In pediatrics, establishing risk factors is important in preventing disease in later life. In this regard, early menarche is a simple and good marker for the management of cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood. Decreasing one's fructose intake might prevent early menarche as well as the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic diseases.

Earlier onset of menstruation is related to increased body mass index in adulthood and altered functional correlations between visual, task control and somatosensory brain networks

Later onset of puberty has been associated with lower body mass index (BMI) in adulthood independent of childhood BMI. However, how the relationship between time of onset of puberty and BMI in adulthood is associated with neurocognitive outcomes is largely unstudied. In the present study, women were sampled from the Human Connectome Project 1200 parcellation, timeseries and netmats1 release (PTN) release. Inclusion criteria were: four (15 minutes) resting state fMRI scans, current measured BMI, self-reported age at onset of menstruation (a proxy of age at onset of puberty) and no endocrine complications (eg, polycystic ovarian syndrome). The effect of age at onset of menstruation, measured BMI at scan date and the interaction of age at onset of menstruation by BMI on brain functional correlation was modelled using fslnets (https://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/FSLNets) controlling for race and age at scan. Corrected significance was set at a family-wise error probability (pFWE) < 0.05. A final sample of n = 510 (age 29.5 years ± 3.6, BMI at scan 25.9 ± 5.6 and age at onset of menstruation 12.7 ± 1.6 were included. Age at onset of menstruation was negatively associated with BMI at scan (r = - 0.19, P < 0.001). The interaction between age at onset of menstruation and BMI at scan was associated with stronger correlation between a somatosensory and visual network (t = 3.45, pFWE = 0.026) and a visual network and cingulo-opercular task control network (t = 4.74, pFWE = 0.0002). Post-hoc analyses of behavioural/cognitive measures showed no effect of the interaction between BMI and age at onset of menstruation on behavioural/cognitive measures. However, post-hoc analyses of heritability showed adult BMI and the correlation between the visual and somatosensory networks have high heritability. In sum, we report increased correlation between visual, taste-associated and self-control brain regions in women at high BMI with later age at onset of menstruation.

Knowledge of peri-menarcheal changes and a comparative analysis of the age at menarche among young adolescent school girls in urban and rural Cameroon

Background

Menarche is an expected event that occurs during the development of every normal young girl. We designed this study to evaluate the knowledge of young school girls on puberty, menarche, and menstruation, and to update data on the age at menarche in a rural and urban setting in Cameroon.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey from February to March 2017, targeting female students aged 9 to 16 years in Yaoundé (urban) and Bamougoum (rural). Participants were included using a randomised cluster sampling and data collected using an auto-administrable questionnaire. Student t-test or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare means, and the odds ratio used as the measure of association between age at menarche and selected covariates.

Results

1157 participants were included in the study; 49.3% from an urban setting and 50.7% from a rural setting. Regarding the knowledge of our participants on puberty, menarche, and menstruation, 67.20% of rural participants had good knowledge, whereas only 46.00% had good knowledge in the urban setting. Mean age at menarche was 12.76 ± 1.33 years, with the mean age at menarche in the urban setting of 12.48 ± 1.12 years and the rural setting of 13.03 ± 1.46 years. Mean age at menarche was significantly lower in participants aged below 14 years (p-value = 0.000), those with both parents alive (p-value = 0.0461), those whose fathers had skilled occupations (p-value = 0.005), those of urban resident (p-value = 0.000), and those who watched TV everyday (p-value = 0.030). Urban residence and age below 14 years were significantly associated with an earlier onset of menarche.

Conclusion

Rural participants had better knowledge of puberty, menarche, and the menstrual cycle than their counterparts in the urban setting. The mean age at menarche over the last two decades has dropped by 7.4 and 4.2 months per decade in urban and rural Cameroon respectively. Mean age at menarche varies significantly with age group, urban/rural residence, state of both parents (both alive/at least one dead), occupation of the father, and frequency of watching TV. Age and urban/rural residence are associated with age at onset of menarche. The continually declining age at menarche is an alarm for future early menarche-linked morbidities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-020-09787-y.

Earlier maternal menarche is associated with shorter newborn telomere length

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between maternal age at menarche and newborn telomere length which has been linked to lifespan and many age-related diseases. There were 734 mother-newborn pairs recruited from Wuhan Children's Hospital Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Age at menarche was self-reported and categorized into three groups (≤ 12 years, 13 years, and ≥ 14 years). Telomere length in cord blood was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and expressed as the ratio of telomere copy number to single-copy gene number (T/S). The mean age at menarche of 734 mothers was 13.1 (± 1.1) years and the adjusted geometric means in the T/S of newborn telomeres in the three groups were 0.693, 0.721, and 0.748 respectively. Earlier age at menarche (≤ 12 years), compared with later age at menarche ≥ 14 years, was significantly associated with 7.32% (95% CI - 13.70%, - 0.23%) shorter telomere length in offspring after adjusting for potential confounders.Conclusion: Mothers with earlier age at menarche were more likely to give birth newborn with shorter telomere length. Our study provides evidences for the effect of earlier menarche on fetal telomere programming in offspring. What is Known: • Newborn telomere length is considered an indicator of lifespan and health outcomes in later life. • The adverse effects of earlier menarche age to their offspring have been found, but its relationship with newborn telomere length has not been assessed before. What is New: • This is the first study to explore the relationship of maternal menarche age with newborn telomere length. • We provided primary evidence that earlier maternal age at menarche was associated with shorter newborn telomere length.

Age at Menarche in Women With Bipolar Disorder: Correlation With Clinical Features and Peripartum Episodes

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is related to reproductive cycles. However, findings on putative correlation between age at menarche and course of BD are particularly scarce and conflicting. The aim of the present study is to analyze the relationship between age at menarche and characteristics of BD, including comorbid medical conditions and peripartum mood episodes.

METHODS

The study sample consists of 288 women with BD type I, II, or not otherwise specified (NOS). Age at menarche was both considered as a continuous variable and categorized into three groups: early menarche (≤11 years), normal menarche (12-14 years), and late menarche (≥15 years). The study focused on two sets of comparisons, by age at menarche and women with vs. without children. Spearman correlation matrix was produced to calculate correlations between the variables of interest. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between early, normal and late menarche, and women with vs. without children were examined through descriptive statistics. Finally, adjusted logistic regression analysis was run to examine the association between variables.

RESULTS

Out of 288 women included in the study, 21.5% had early menarche, 55.6% had normal, and 22.9% had late menarche. Women with early menarche had higher rates of metabolic syndrome compared to women with normal menarche even after adjustment for age. The subgroup of women with children does not present clinical differences compared to women without children except a lower rate of psychiatric comorbidities. At least one mood episode with peripartum onset occurred in 29.6% of the women with children. After controlling for confounding variables, women with late menarche were associated with lower probability of BD peripartum episodes compared to women with normal menarche.

CONCLUSION

Age at menarche may be related to specific characteristics of women with BD. The results deserve to be deepened in further studies.

Relationship of age at menarche and serum leptin with the metabolically unhealthy phenotype in adolescents

Introduction

Objective: to analyze the relationship of age at menarche and leptin with the metabolically healthy (MH) and metabolically unhealthy (MUH) phenotypes in adolescent girls in different body mass index (BMI) categories. Method: an observational and cross-sectional study consisting of 139 female adolescents attended to at the Adolescent Reference Center in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Menarche was classified as early (EM) when the first menstruation occurred at or before 11 years of age; normal menarche (NM) was categorized at ages 12 to 14; menarche was considered late (LM) when it occurred at age 15 or older. The factors required to ascertain the subjects' phenotype, as well as their leptin levels, weight, and height, were measured and their BMIs were calculated. The girls were classified as MH or MUH based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria as adapted for children and adolescents. Results: 82 % (n = 114) of the girls were classified as MH and 18 % (n = 25) as MUH. Mean age at menarche was 11.79 ± 1.39 years. There was a higher prevalence of MUH amongst the girls who had EM (p = 0.04). A higher inadequacy of serum leptin concentrations was found in girls who had EM (p = 0.05) and in those classified as MUH (p = 0.01). The adolescents who were severely obese exhibited inadequate leptin levels (p < 0.01) and had gone through EM (p = 0.02). A total of 8.1 % (n = 7) of the normal-weight girls were classified as MUH, and 29.4 % (n = 5) of those who were severely obese were classified as MH (p < 0.01). Conclusion: early menarche and high serum leptin concentrations are related with the MUH phenotype in adolescent girls in different BMI categories.

Early menarche and blood pressure in adulthood: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

It has been reported that early menarche is associated with high blood pressure and hypertension. However, some studies have failed to observe such association. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association of early menarche with hypertension and high blood pressure in adulthood.

Methods

PUBMED, SciELO, Scopus and LILACS databases were searched. Studies that evaluated the association of early menarche with hypertension or high blood pressure, among women aged 20 years or more were included. Random effects models were used to pool the estimates. Meta-regression was used to evaluate the contribution of different co-variables to heterogeneity.

Results

We identified 17 studies with 18 estimates on the association of early menarche with hypertension and high blood pressure. The odds of hypertension/high blood pressure was higher among women with early menarche [pooled (OR):1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.34; P < 0.001]. In the meta-regression analysis, studies evaluating 1500 subjects or more had a higher pooled OR [1.27; 95%CI (1.19;1.36)] than those with less participants. Although funnel plots showed some asymmetry, Egger tests were not statistically significant. Therefore, it is unlikely that the observed association was to publication bias.

Conclusions

Early menarche is associated with hypertension among adult woman.

Early Menarche is a Risk Factor for Short Stature in Young Korean Females: An Epidemiologic Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between age at menarche and adult height [and body mass index (BMI)] in young Korean females and also to investigate whether early menarche (<12 years) is a risk factor for short stature and obesity in young Korean females.

METHODS

Data on 1148 females aged 18-30 years and 612 mother (612 pairs of mothers and daughters) from the 6^th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 1148 females, 256 (22.3%) had early menarche. Their stature was approximately 0.445 cm shorter when menarche had occurred one year earlier. The prevalence of short stature (≤153 cm) and obesity (BMI ≥25) was higher in females with early menarche compared to those with later menarche (short stature: 10.5% vs 6.4%, obesity; 20.7% vs 13.1%, all p<0.001). In multivariate regression, the odds ratio (OR) for short stature was 2.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-5.44] after adjusting for current age and mother’s height. OR for obesity was 1.74 (95% CI: 0.98-3.07) after adjusting for age and maternal BMI.

CONCLUSION

Final height in girls is influenced by age of menarche. Early menarche increased the risk for adult short stature in young Korean females.

Skin disease related to metabolic syndrome in women

Sex hormones are involved in pathways of metabolic syndrome (MetS), an observation supported by animal studies. The relationships of sex hormones with components of MetS, such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, have been studied in pre- and postmenopausal women. High testosterone, low sex hormone-binding globulin, and low estrogen levels increase the risks of MetS and type 2 diabetes in women. Cutaneous diseases that are sex hormone mediated, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans, acne vulgaris, and pattern alopecia, have been associated with insulin resistance and increased risk for MetS. Furthermore, inflammatory skin conditions, such as hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis, increase the risk for MetS. Patients with such skin conditions should be followed for metabolic complications, and early lifestyle interventions toward these populations may be warranted.

Early Menstrual Factors Are Associated with Adulthood Cardio-Metabolic Health in a Survey of Mexican Teachers

Objectives To evaluate whether age at menarche and time to menstrual regularity were related to cardio-metabolic risk factors in Mexican women. Methods The study population comprised 54,921 women from the 2008-2010 wave of the Mexican Teacher's Cohort. A modified Poisson approach was used; exposures were age at menarche and time to menstrual regularity (< 1 year vs. ≥1 year), and outcomes were prevalent obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Results Mean (SD) age of women was 42.1 (7.6) years, and mean (SD) menarcheal age was 12.5 (1.5) years. Compared to women with menarche age 13 years, those with menarche < 9 years had a 65% (95% CI 43-90%); 27% (95% CI 4-55%); and 23% (95% CI 1-49%) higher prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, respectively. For diabetes, there was a U-shaped association; compared to menarche age 13 years, those with menarche < 9 years had an 89% higher prevalence of diabetes (95% CI 39-156%), and those with menarche ≥ 17 years had a 65% higher prevalence (95% CI 16-134%). Among women with regular cycles (n = 43,113), a longer time to menstrual regularity was associated with diabetes (PR = 1.11 with 95% CI 1.02-1.22), high blood pressure (PR = 1.11 with 95% CI 1.06-1.17), and high cholesterol (PR = 1.09 with 95% CI 1.04-1.14). Conclusions for practice Mexican women with earlier and later ages at menarche and/or longer time to menstrual regularity may have higher risk of cardio-metabolic disease in adulthood.

Early age at menarche is associated with insulin resistance: a systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to conduct a systemic review and meta-analysis of the relevant studies to further investigate the association between age at menarche and insulin resistance.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science (SCI) databases were systemically searched until December 2017. Observational studies comparing the incidences of insulin resistance in patients with early, average, and late menarchal ages were identified. Weighted mean difference (WMD) for HOMA-IR scores and fasting serum insulin levels in early vs late, early vs average. and average vs late comparisons were calculated with a random- or fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of eight articles involving 5504 subjects were finally included. In the analysis of HOMA-IR, the pooled WMDs in five studies were 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.60, p < 0.001), 0.40 (95% CI 0.28-0.52, p < 0.001), and -0.01 (95% CI -0.09 to 0.07, p = 0.854) for early vs late, early vs average, and average vs late comparisons, respectively. The fasting serum insulin levels in eight studies were analyzed, and it was significantly higher in subjects with earlier age at menarche (WMD 1.28, 95% CI 0.92-1.63, p < 0.001 for early vs late comparison, WMD 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.43, p < 0.001 for early vs average comparison) with mild and acceptable heterogeneity (I² = 42.5% and 7.4%, respectively). Publication bias was not detected via funnel plots and Egger's tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that earlier age at menarche was significantly associated with insulin resistance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018083874.

Early Menarche and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between age at menarche and metabolic syndrome was inconsistent across studies and remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the association between age at menarche and risk of metabolic syndrome, comprehensively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases were searched for all articles published through May 2017, and the reference lists of the retrieved articles were reviewed. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model through combining the study-specific estimates adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Sixteen observational studies were eligible for the meta-analysis of age at menarche and metabolic syndrome, which included 13,657 cases among 51,453 subjects. The pooled RR of metabolic syndrome for the youngest versus the oldest categories of age at menarche was 1.62 (95% CI: 1.40-1.88) (p for heterogeneity = 0.01, I² = 57.3%). The analysis of 1-year decrease in age at menarche conferred a pooled RR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01-1.15), suggesting an 8% increase in risk of metabolic syndrome. The association between age at menarche and the risk of metabolic syndrome did not vary by study design, geographical region, number of subjects, and adjustment for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings from the current meta-analysis suggest that earlier menarcheal age is associated with higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Age at menarche may help identify women with higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Further well-designed cohort studies are warranted to provide definitive evidence.

Relationship between Age at Menarche and Metabolic Syndrome in Premenopausal Women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

Early menarche may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean premenopausal women.

METHODS

We used nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2014, and 3,023 premenopausal women aged 20-55 years were our subjects. We defined early menarche as age at first menstrual period less than 12 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between age at menarche and MetS after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables.

RESULTS

MetS was much more common in women aged 40-55 years than in women aged 20-39 years (4.1% vs. 15.1%). Compared with women who experienced menarche at age 12-15 years, the risk of MetS in the early menarche group was not higher in either age group, after adjusting for current age, and socioeconomic, lifestyle, and reproductive variables (odds ratio [OR], 1.767; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.718-4.351 in those aged 20-39 years; OR, 1.780; 95% CI, 0.775-4.085 in those aged 40-55 years). The risk of MetS in women with menarche at age ≥16 years was not higher than in women with menarche at age 12-15 years.

CONCLUSION

Early or late menarche was not associated with an increased risk of MetS in premenopausal Korean women. Even before menopause, current age has a major influence on the development of MetS.

Effects of 28 weeks of high-intensity interval training during physical education classes on cardiometabolic risk factors in Chilean schoolchildren: a pilot trial

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of 28 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) during physical education classes on the weight status, cardiorespiratory capacity, and blood pressure of overweight and obese schoolchildren. The participants included 197 schoolchildren (108 girls and 89 boys) aged between 6 and 11 years (8.39 ± 1.15 years) in four groups: experimental group 1 (EG1) = 59 overweight schoolchildren; experimental group 2 (EG2) = 92 obese schoolchildren; control group 1 (CG1) = 17 overweight children; and control group 2 (CG2) = 29 obese schoolchildren. The participants in the EGs carried out HIIT twice per week for 28 weeks. After the 28-week intervention, the participants showed significant reductions in body mass index (p < 0.001). Waist circumference of boys in EG2 and waist-to-height ratio of girls in EG2 was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Body fat percentage diminished, for girls in both groups and boys in EG2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the program significantly reduced the number of hypertensive schoolchildren (p = 0.001) and reduced the percentage of obese schoolchildren. The distance covered in the 6-min walk test improved significantly for girls in EG1 and EG2 (p < 0.05) and boys in EG2.

CONCLUSIONS

The 28-week HIIT program caused significant improvements in the cardiorespiratory capacity, anthropometric variables, and blood pressure levels of overweight and obese children. What is Known: • High-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs improve health, but investigations have used relatively short intervention periods. What is New: • The 28-week period (a large intervention period) of HIIT-based games during physical education classes caused significant improvements in cardiorespiratory capacity, anthropometric variables, and blood pressure levels of overweight and obese schoolchildren.

Is age at menarche associated with total mortality? The Tromsø Study

Purpose

Early age at menarche (AAM) has been associated with increased mortality and morbidity, including premature death from all causes, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the association between AAM and all-cause mortality.

Subjects and methods

A total of 12,409 women aged 25–94 years who took part in the fourth Tromsø Study in Norway during 1994–1995 were included in this prospective population-based study with a mean 18.7 years of follow-up. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to investigate the association between AAM and all-cause mortality with adjustment for known confounders (age, body mass index, physical activity, level of education and smoking history).

Results

During the 18.7 years of follow-up, a total of 2,203 women died. There was no association between AAM and all-cause mortality before or after adjusting for possible confounding factors.

Conclusion

This prospective study of 12,409 women did not find any association between AAM and all-cause mortality

Evaluation of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify the predictive value of basal sex hormone levels for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in girls.

METHODS

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests were performed and evaluated in a total of 1750 girls with development of secondary sex characteristics. Correlation analyses were conducted between basal sex hormones and peak luteinizing hormone (LH) levels ≥5 IU/L during the GnRH stimulation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for basal levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, and estradiol (E2) before the GnRH stimulation test were plotted. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured for each curve.

RESULTS

The maximum AUC value was observed for basal LH levels (0.77, 95% CI: 0.74-0.79), followed by basal FSH levels (0.73, 95% CI: 0.70-0.75), the basal LH/FSH ratio (0.68, 95% CI: 0.65-0.71), and basal E2 levels (0.61, 95% CI: 0.59-0.64). The appropriate cutoff value of basal LH levels associated with a positive response of the GnRH stimulation test was 0.35 IU/L, with a sensitivity of 63.96% and specificity of 76.3% from the ROC curves when Youden's index showed the maximum value. When 100% of patients had peak LH levels ≥5 IU/L, basal LH values were >2.72 IU/L, but the specificity was only 5.45%.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased basal LH levels are a significant predictor of a positive response during the GnRH stimulation test for assessing activation of the HPG axis in most girls with early pubertal signs.

Early menarche is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adulthood

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the association between early menarche (<12 years) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in premenopausal women and to explore whether it is mediated by adult obesity and insulin resistance.

METHODS

We analyzed data of premenopausal women, aged ≥15 years, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009). We divided the women into three groups: early menarche, reference (12.00-15.99 years), and late menarche. The presence of NAFLD was determined using hepatic steatosis index >36.0.

RESULTS

Of the 4,387 women evaluated, 673 (15.4%) met the criteria for NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was higher in both women with early and late menarche compared with the reference (early, 23.4%; reference, 14.0%; late, 19.9%, P < 0.001). After adjustment of confounders including age, the OR for NAFLD in early menarche compared with the reference was 3.04 (95%CI: 1.99-4.65). Further adjustment of mediators, such as central obesity or insulin resistance, attenuated the association to 1.91-2.17. There was no association, however, between late menarche and NAFLD after adjustment of confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Early menarche was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in young and middle-aged premenopausal Korean women.

Gynecologic and andrologic dermatology and the metabolic syndrome

The relationship of sex hormones to obesity and inflammation has been extensively studied. Research on endogenous and exogenous sex steroids, including studies on animal models of metabolic syndrome (MetS), has indicated that sex hormones are involved in metabolic pathways relevant to MetS. Lower testosterone levels in men and higher levels in women increase risks of MetS and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin increase risks of MetS and T2DM in both sexes. Skin diseases that are sex hormone mediated, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans, acne vulgaris, and pattern alopecia, have been associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance increases the risk for metabolic and potentially cardiovascular complications, and patients with such skin diseases should be followed for a prolonged time to determine whether they develop these complications. Early intervention may help delay or prevent the onset of T2DM and decrease cardiovascular risks.

Association between Body Weight Changes and Menstrual Irregularity: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010 to 2012

BACKGROUND

Menstrual irregularity is an indicator of endocrine disorders and reproductive health status. It is associated with various diseases and medical conditions, including obesity and underweight. We aimed to assess the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity in Korean women.

METHODS

A total of 4,621 women 19 to 54 years of age who participated in the 2010 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect medical information assessing menstrual health status and body weight changes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity.

RESULTS

Significantly higher ORs (95% CI) were observed in the association between menstrual irregularity and both weight loss (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.48) and weight gain (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.86) after adjusting for age, body mass index, current smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, regular exercise, calorie intake, education, income, metabolic syndrome, age of menarche, parity, and stress perception. Of note, significant associations were only observed in subjects with obesity and abdominal obesity, but not in non-obese or non-abdominally obese subjects. U-shaped patterns were demonstrated in both obese and abdominally obese subjects, indicating that greater changes in body weight are associated with higher odds of menstrual irregularity.

CONCLUSION

We found a U-shaped pattern of association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity among obese women in the general Korean population. This result indicates that not only proper weight management but also changes in body weight may influence the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

A Cutoff for Age at Menarche Predicting Metabolic Syndrome in Egyptian Overweight/Obese Premenopausal Women

Previous studies showed that early age at menarche is associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome. However, the definition of early menarche at these studies was based on background data in the communities at which these studies was carried on. The aim of this work is to determine a cutoff for age at menarche discriminating presence or absence of metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese premenopausal women. This study included 204 overweight/obese women. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to NCEP-ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria. Of a total 204 participants, 82 (40.2%) had metabolic syndrome. By using receiver operating characteristic analysis, age at menarche ≤12.25 year discriminated individuals with from those without metabolic syndrome. The area under the curve was 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.70 to 0.83). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 82%, 70%, 85%, and 64%, respectively. Age at menarche ≤12.25 years predicts the presence of metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese women.

Exercise and Sports Medicine Issues in Underserved Populations

Primary care providers can make a strong argument for exercise promotion in underserved communities. The benefits are vitally important in adolescent physical, cognitive, and psychological development as well as in adult disease prevention and treatment. In counseling such patients, we should take into account a patient's readiness for change and the barriers to exercise.

Duration of reproductive lifespan and age at menarche in relation to metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Chinese women

AIM

This study aimed to assess the associations between menstrual characteristics and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1625 postmenopausal women in China. Subjects were classified into three groups according to the tertiles of some variables related to the reproductive life. We assessed associations in multivariable-adjusted analyses, using logistic regressions.

RESULTS

After adjustments for confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) for predicting the presence of MetS increased gradually: as the years of menstruation increased (18-34 years vs 35-37 years vs 38-46 years: OR [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1 vs 1.231 [0.942-1.610] vs 1.309 [0.985-1.740], respectively); as age at menopause increased (31-48 years vs 49-51 years vs 52-59 years: OR [95%CI] = 1 vs 1.115 [0.846-1.469] vs 1.315 [0.986-1.753], respectively); and as age at menarche decrease (11-13 years vs 14-15 years vs 16-20 years: OR [95%CI] = 1 vs 0.950 [0.728-1.240] vs 0.862 [0.610-1.119], respectively). Among the components of MetS, the highest tertile of years of menstruation was significantly associated with elevated waist circumference (OR =1.401 [95%CI = 1.092-1.798]), and elevated triglyceride (OR =1.220 [95%CI = 0.934-1.593]). Nevertheless, the association between these reproductive factors and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was not significant.

CONCLUSION

Longer duration of menstruation and earlier age at menarche were significantly associated with a higher risk of central obesity and MetS in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Age-Related Change in Mobility: Perspectives From Life Course Epidemiology and Geroscience

Mobility is the most studied and most relevant physical ability affecting quality of life with strong prognostic value for disability and survival. Natural selection has built the "engine" of mobility with great robustness, redundancy, and functional reserve. Efficient patterns of mobility can be acquired during development even by children affected by severe impairments. Analogously, age-associated impairments in mobility-related physiological systems are compensated and overt limitations of mobility only occur when the severity can no longer be compensated. Mobility loss in older persons usually results from multiple impairments in the central nervous system, muscles, joints, and energetic and sensory physiological systems. Early preclinical changes in these physiological systems that precede mobility loss have been poorly studied. Peak performance, rate of decline, compensatory behaviors, or subclinical deterioration of physiological resources may cumulatively influence both timing of mobility loss and chances of recovery, but their role as risk factors has not been adequately characterized. Understanding the natural history of these early changes and intervening on them would likely be the most effective strategy to reduce the burden of disability in the population. For example, young women with low bone peak mass could be counseled to start strength resistance exercise to reduce their high risk of developing osteoporosis and fracture later in life. Expanding this approach to other physiological domains requires collecting and interpreting data from life course epidemiological studies, establishing normative measures of mobility, physical function, and physical activity, and connecting them with life course trajectories of the mobility-relevant physiological domains.

Association Between Age at Menarche and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases in Korean Women: The 2010 to 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Early menarche is strongly associated with adulthood obesity; however, the relationship between age at menarche and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Korean women remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the association between early menarche and risk factors for developing CVD during adulthood using a nationwide population database.In total, 12,336 women (weighted n = 17,483,406; weighted age, 45.7 years) who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010 to 2013 were included in this study. Participants were scored using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for metabolic syndrome. Risk of CVD was estimated using the 10-year Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Point Scale (10-year FRS).Early menarche (≤11 years) was reported in 5.2% (weighted n = 917,493) of subjects. The weighted prevalences of metabolic syndrome and ≥20% 10-year FRS were 23.6% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 22.7-24.6] and 7.7% (7.1-8.3), respectively. Women with early menarche reported a significantly higher body mass index and waist circumference, along with a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome than those with later menarche (≥13 years). Furthermore, the prevalence of women with a ≥10% or ≥20% 10-year FRS was higher in those with early menarche than in other groups after adjusting for age, smoking, education level, and menstruation. Logistic regression analyses controlling for these and other confounding factors revealed odds ratios of 2.29 (95% CI = 1.25-4.19) and 1.78 (0.96-3.30) for ≥10% and ≥20% 10-year FRS in women with early menarche, respectively, compared with those in the latest menarche group (≥17 years).Taken together, this nationwide study revealed that women with early menarche are at increased risks of metabolic syndrome and CVD. Early menarche may therefore represent an important marker for early preventive interventions.