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Binder AM, Corvalan C, Mericq V, Pereira A, Santos JL, Horvath S, Shepherd J, Michels KB. Faster ticking rate of the epigenetic clock is associated with faster pubertal development in girls. Epigenetics 2018; 13:85-94. [PMID: 29235933 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2017.1414127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic age is an indicator of biological aging, capturing the impact of environmental and behavioral influences across time on cellular function. Deviance between epigenetic age and chronological age (AgeAccel) is a predictor of health. Pubertal timing has similarly been associated with cancer risk and mortality rate among females. We examined the association between AgeAccel and pubertal timing and adolescent breast composition in the longitudinal Growth and Obesity Cohort Study. AgeAccel was estimated in whole blood using the Horvath method at breast Tanner 2 (B2) and 4 (B4). Total breast volume, absolute fibro-glandular volume (FGV), and %FGV were evaluated at B4 using dual X-ray absorptiometry. The impact of AgeAccel (mean: 0; SD: 3.78) across puberty on the time to breast development (thelarche), menarche, and pubertal tempo (thelarche to menarche) was estimated using accelerated failure time models; generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate associations with breast density. A five-year increase in average adolescent AgeAccel was associated with a significant decrease in time to menarche [hazard ratio (HR): 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.80] adjusting for birth weight, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal height, maternal education, B2 height, fat percentage, and cell composition. AgeAccel displayed a stronger inverse association with pubertal tempo (HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.99). A five-year increase in AgeAccel was associated with 5% greater %FGV, adjusting for B4 percent body fat, and maternal traits (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). Our study provides unique insight into the influence of AgeAccel on pubertal development in girls, which may have implications for adult health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Binder
- a Department of Epidemiology , Fielding School of Public Health, University of California , Los Angeles , 650 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles , CA 90095 , USA
| | - Camila Corvalan
- b Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology , University of Chile , Av el Libano 5524, Santiago , Chile
| | - Verónica Mericq
- c Institute of Maternal and Child Research , University of Chile , Santa Rosa 1234, 2° piso, Santiago , Chile
| | - Ana Pereira
- b Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology , University of Chile , Av el Libano 5524, Santiago , Chile
| | - José Luis Santos
- d Department of Nutrition , Diabetes and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Av Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago , Chile
| | - Steve Horvath
- e Department of Biostatistics , School of Public Health, and Department of Human Genetics, Gonda Research Center , David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles , 695 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles , CA 90095 , USA
| | - John Shepherd
- f Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging , University of California, San Francisco , 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco , CA 94117 , USA
| | - Karin B Michels
- a Department of Epidemiology , Fielding School of Public Health, University of California , Los Angeles , 650 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles , CA 90095 , USA
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