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Gold CL, Bertone-Johnson E. Self-reported history of breastfeeding in relation to recalled age at menarche in the United States. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24067. [PMID: 38523370 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Menarche is a key life history event that shapes the female reproductive trajectory and is important to the study of human biology because of the associated epidemiological and social consequences later in life. Our question is whether breastfeeding is associated with the variation in timing of menarche. Using data from a college-aged female student population from Amherst, MA, we examined whether having been breastfed was associated with age at menarche. Of the 340 female participants with information on breastfeeding during infancy, we found that women who were breastfed (n = 286) had an adjusted mean age of menarche of 12.53 years (SE 0.09), while those who were not breastfed (n = 54) had an adjusted mean age of menarche of 12.04 years (SE 0.20; p < 0.03). We propose further research that explores a finer distinction between formula-fed, mixed-fed or predominantly breastfed infants, duration of breastfeeding and age at menarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Gold
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
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Hackman JV, Campbell BC, Hewlett B, Page AE, Kramer KL. Adipose development is consistent across hunter-gatherers and diverges from western references. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240110. [PMID: 39191279 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite agreement that humans have evolved to be unusually fat primates, adipose patterning among hunter-gatherers has received little empirical consideration. Here we consider the development of adiposity among four contemporary groups of hunter-gatherers, the Aka, Savanna Pumé, Ju'/Hoansi and Agta using multi-level generalized additive mixed modelling to characterize the growth of tricep skinfolds from early childhood through adolescence. In contrast to references, hunter-gatherers show several consistent patterns: (i) children are lean with little fat accumulation; (ii) no adiposity rebound at 5 years is evident; (iii) girls on average have built 90% of their body size, and reach menarche when adiposity is at its maximum velocity; and (iv) a metabolic trade-off is evident in young, but not older children, such that both boys and girls prioritize skeletal growth during middle childhood, a trade-off that diminishes during adolescence when height velocity increases in pace with fat accumulation. Consistent results across hunter-gatherers living in diverse environments suggest that these patterns reflect a general forager pattern of development. The findings provide a valuable baseline for adipose development not apparent from reference populations. We emphasize both generalized trends among hunter-gatherers, and that inter-populational differences point to the plasticity with which humans organize growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph V Hackman
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Barry Hewlett
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University , Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Abigail E Page
- Divsion of Psychology, Brunel University London , London, UK
| | - Karen L Kramer
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Gold CL, Kitrinos CE, Sievert LL, Kamilar JM. Mean age at menarche and climate variables on a global scale. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23961. [PMID: 37439378 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cross-population variation in age at menarche is related to many factors. The purpose of this study was to examine climate variables in relation to mean age at menarche among 87 modern human populations. We hypothesized a later age at menarche among populations living in areas with high precipitation variability, heavy seasonal rainfall, and high temperatures year-round due to water-borne diseases and periods of resource scarcity. METHODS Using a comparative dataset, we examined geospatial distribution and climate variables in relation to age at menarche for 87 modern human populations. RESULTS We found the strongest predictor of a later age at menarche was higher fertility followed by a later mean age at death. In addition, higher annual rainfall, higher precipitation seasonality, and lower annual mean temperature were moderate predictors of age at menarche. CONCLUSIONS We propose that later ages at menarche in countries with high fertility may be a life-history strategy developed in response to climatic conditions that have resulted in higher immunological load. In these conditions, females may prioritize growth rather than reproduction. Shifts in climate and global population growth may change the future biological landscape of age at menarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Gold
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine E Kitrinos
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lynnette L Sievert
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason M Kamilar
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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McFadden C. From the Ground Up: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Past Fertility and Population Narratives. HUMAN NATURE (HAWTHORNE, N.Y.) 2023; 34:476-500. [PMID: 37723407 PMCID: PMC10543153 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-023-09459-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Population dynamics form a crucial component of human narratives in the past. Population responses and adaptations not only tell us about the human past but also offer insights into the present and future. Though an area of substantial interest, it is also one of often limited evidence. As such, traditional techniques from demography and anthropology must be adapted considerably to accommodate the available archaeological and ethnohistoric data and an appropriate inferential framework must be applied. In this article, I propose a ground-up, multidisciplinary approach to the study of past population dynamics. Specifically, I develop an empirically informed path diagram based on modern fertility interactions and sources of past environmental, sociocultural, and biological evidence to guide high-resolution case studies. The proposed approach is dynamic and can evolve in response to data inputs as case studies are undertaken. In application, this approach will create new knowledge of past population processes which can greatly enhance our presently limited knowledge of high-frequency, small-scale demographic fluctuations, as well as contribute to our broader understanding of significant population disturbances and change throughout human history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare McFadden
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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Zhao J, Xuan Y, Zhang Y, Hong X, Zhang H, Zhang R, Yan T, Wang Y, Peng Z, Zhang Y, Jiao K, He T, Wang Q, Shen H, Zhang Y, Yan D, Wang B, Ma X. Assessment of Prior Infection With Hepatitis B Virus and Fecundability in Couples Planning Pregnancy. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2330870. [PMID: 37651142 PMCID: PMC10472190 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with reduced fecundability among reproductive-aged couples lacks large-population, in-depth study evidence. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of HBV infection with time to pregnancy in couples planning pregnancy, and to explore whether this association varied by gravidity, health statuses, or lifestyles. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This is a population-based cohort study of Chinese couples participating in the National Free Preconception Check-up Projects during 2015 to 2017. They were planning pregnancy and were followed-up every 3 months until getting pregnant, as confirmed by gynecologic ultrasonography, or were followed-up for 1 year. Data were analyzed between March 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcome was time to pregnancy, assessed using fecundability hazard ratios (HRs). The Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of HBV infection with fecundability. RESULTS Among 2 419 848 couples (mean [SD] age, 27.87 [5.20] years for women and 29.58 [5.50] years for men), 126 728 women (5.24%) and 156 572 men (6.47%) were infected with HBV. Compared with the HBV-negative group, the fecundability of both women and men in the HBV-positive group decreased by 5% (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.94-0.95). Compared with couples in which both partners were HBV negative, the fecundability of those in which both partners were HBV positive declined by 6% (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93-0.96) among all couples, by 3% (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99) among nulligravidas couples, and by 7% (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.95) among multigravidas couples. Both the female-male and couple models suggested that the association of HBV infection with decreased fecundability was more pronounced in couples with multigravidas. The negative association was greater in people with overweight and obesity and was inconsistent in certain subgroups; in particular, it was more pronounced in women with reproductive tract infections, normal fasting plasma glucose, and no alcohol intake and in men with normal blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this population-based cohort study, HBV infection was associated with decreased fecundability in a general reproductive-aged population, especially in couples with multigravidas. For women and men with certain health statuses and lifestyles, a comprehensive consideration of this association is recommended to provide personalized fertility guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Xuan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongguang Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Zuoqi Peng
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Kailei Jiao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu He
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaomei Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Haiping Shen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yiping Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Donghai Yan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Bei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xu Ma
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China
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Historical and hunter-gatherer perspectives on fast-slow life history strategies. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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Glass DJ, Geerkens JT, Martin MA. Psychosocial and energetic factors on human female pubertal timing: a systematized review. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e28. [PMID: 37588922 PMCID: PMC10426011 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood psychosocial stressors have been proposed to favour fast life history strategies promoting earlier puberty in females. However, studies demonstrating this association often do not elucidate causal mechanisms, nor account for greater childhood energetic availability - also known to promote rapid growth and earlier puberty. To assess the extent to which such confounding has been considered, we conducted a systematized review to identify studies examining measures of both prepubertal growth (e.g. weight, height) and psychosocial stressors (e.g. adversity, father absence) in relation to female pubertal timing. A total of 1069 non-duplicated studies were identified across five databases. Twenty studies met selection criteria for critical review following independent screening of titles, abstracts and manuscripts. Within these studies, measures indicative of rapid childhood growth were more consistently associated with earlier pubertal timing than were measures of psychosocial stress. We discuss future research directions to investigate the impact of psychosocial stress on pubertal timing more robustly, including methodological and mechanistic considerations, and contextualization of findings by socioecological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney J. Glass
- University of Washington, Department of Anthropology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Melanie A. Martin
- University of Washington, Department of Anthropology, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Girardi G, Bremer AA. Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on Women's Reproductive Health. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2022; 31:755-757. [PMID: 35708571 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina Girardi
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew A Bremer
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Kusters CDJ, Paul KC, Folle AD, Keener AM, Bronstein JM, Bertram L, Hansen J, Horvath S, Sinsheimer JS, Lill CM, Ritz BR. Increased Menopausal Age Reduces the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Approach. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2264-2272. [PMID: 34426982 PMCID: PMC8530889 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the association with age at menarche or menopause have reported inconsistent findings. Mendelian randomization (MR) may address measurement errors because of difficulties accurately reporting the age these life events occur. OBJECTIVE We used MR to assess the association between age at menopause and age at menarche with PD risk. METHODS We performed inverse variant-weighted (IVW) MR analysis using external genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data from the United Kingdom biobank, and the effect estimates between genetic variants and PD among two population-based studies (Parkinson's disease in Denmark (PASIDA) study, Denmark, and Parkinson's Environment and Gene study [PEG], United States) that enrolled 1737 female and 2430 male subjects of European ancestry. We, then, replicated our findings for age at menopause using summary statistics from the PD consortium (19 773 women), followed by a meta-analysis combining all summary statistics. RESULTS For each year increase in age at menopause, the risk for PD decreased (odds ration [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.98; P = 0.03) among women in our study, whereas there was no association among men (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11; P = 0.71). A replication using summary statistics from the PD consortium estimated an OR of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.99; P = 0.01), and we calculated a meta-analytic OR of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.98; P = 0.003). There was no indication for an association between age at menarche and PD (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.44-1.29; P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS A later age at menopause was associated with a decreased risk of PD in women, supporting the hypothesis that sex hormones or other factors related to late menopause may be neuroprotective in PD. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia DJ Kusters
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly C Paul
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aline Duarte Folle
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Adrienne M Keener
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jeff M. Bronstein
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Department of Psychology, Centre for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johnni Hansen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Janet S. Sinsheimer
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina M. Lill
- Translational Epidemiology Group, Lübeck Interdisciplinary Platform for Genome Analytics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beate R. Ritz
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Environmental Health, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Moslehi N, Asghari G, Mirmiran P, Azizi F. Longitudinal association of dietary sources of animal and plant protein throughout childhood with menarche. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:206. [PMID: 33910533 PMCID: PMC8080383 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02670-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inconsistent findings have been reported for associations between protein intake and age at menarche. We aimed to investigate the association between intake of protein and protein-containing food groups during childhood with menarche among Iranian girls. Methods Girls aged 6–18 years who did not experience menarche in the third or fourth examination cycles of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study were selected and were followed to the fifth examination cycle. Daily intakes of protein from different animal/plant sources and ten protein-containing food groups were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline (the third or fourth examination cycles). Occurrence of menarche and its onset age were asked during each examination cycle. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the occurrence of menarche per one standard deviation (SD) of dietary intakes. Logistic regression was also used to estimate the odds of reaching menarche ≤12 years. Results During the study, 147(61%) of girls reached menarche, the median age at menarche was 12 years. The adjusted HRs (95% CI) for the occurrence of menarche per one-SD of dietary intakes were 0.68 (0.48, 0.98; p = 0.040) for plant protein and 1.36 (1.01, 1.84; p = 0.042) for animal protein after adjusting for baseline age, BMI Z-score, energy intake, and mother’s early menarche and education. Substituting 10-g animal protein with plant protein was associated with a 16% (95%CI: 5–25%; p = 0.006) lower risk of menarche. Dietary intakes of poultry (adjusted HR: 1.35; 95% CIs: 1.00–1.82; p = 0.049) and low-fat dairy (adjusted HR: 1.20; 95%CIs: 0.99–1.46; p = 0.064) were marginally associated with the increased risk of menarche. However, the odds of early menarche was significant only for plant protein (adjusted odds ratio = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16–0.96; p = 0.040). Conclusions Our findings indicate that the risk of menarche increases by higher intakes of animal protein and decreases by plant protein. Intakes of poultry and low-fat dairy associate with a higher risk of menarche. The odds of menarche occurrence ≤12 years reduces by higher intakes of plant protein. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-021-02670-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Moslehi
- Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 24, Shahid Arabi St, Yemen Blvd, Chamran Exp, P.O.Box: 19395-4763, Tehran, Iran
| | - Golaleh Asghari
- Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 24, Shahid Arabi St, Yemen Blvd, Chamran Exp, P.O.Box: 19395-4763, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 7, Arghavan-e-gharbi St., Farahzadi Blvd., Shahrak-e-qods, P.O.Box: 19395-4741, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Parvin Mirmiran
- Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 24, Shahid Arabi St, Yemen Blvd, Chamran Exp, P.O.Box: 19395-4763, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 7, Arghavan-e-gharbi St., Farahzadi Blvd., Shahrak-e-qods, P.O.Box: 19395-4741, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fereidoun Azizi
- Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Leone T, Brown LJ. Timing and determinants of age at menarche in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health 2020; 5:e003689. [PMID: 33298469 PMCID: PMC7733094 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Understanding the timing and determinants of age at menarche is key to determining potential linkages between onset of puberty and health outcomes from a life-course perspective. Yet, we have little information in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) mainly due to lack of data. The aim of this study was to analyse trends in the timing and the determinants of menarche in LMICs. METHODS Using 16 World Fertility Survey and 28 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 27 countries, we analysed cohort trends and used fixed-effects models for DHS surveys to investigate sociodemographic and regional effects in the timing of age at menarche. RESULTS Trends of the mean age at menarche across time within and between countries show a declining or stalling path. Results of the determinant modelling show the relationship with wealth changes over time although not consistently across countries. We see a shift from poorer women having earlier menarche in earlier surveys to richer women having earlier menarche in later surveys in Indonesia, the Philippines and Yemen, while in Egypt, the reverse pattern is evident. CONCLUSIONS There is a considerable gap in both literature and data on menarche. We see a trend which is declining rapidly (from 14.66 to 12.86 years for the 1932 and 2002 cohorts, respectively), possibly at a faster pace than high-income countries and with a strong link to socioeconomic status. This study calls for menarche questions to be included in more nationally representative surveys and greater use of existing data because of its impact on life-course health in fast-ageing settings. Further studies will need to investigate further the use of the age at menarche as an indicator of global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Leone
- International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Laura J Brown
- International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
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Nepomnaschy PA, Rowlands A, Prescivalli Costa AP, Salvante KG. Socio-Ecological Challenges as Modulators of Women's Reproductive Trajectories. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-102317-045930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amenorrhea, anovulatory cycles, miscarriages, and other reproductive outcomes are often seen as pathological. Life history theory, in contrast, treats those outcomes as adaptations that helped women optimize the timing of reproductive ventures across our evolutionary history. Women's bodies adjust their reproductive strategies in response to socio-ecological conditions, a process mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Here, we review the links between socio-ecological conditions, HPAA activity, and the pace of women's reproductive transitions such as puberty, age at first birth, interbirth interval, and perimenopause. We also discuss the HPAA's role as a modulator of reproductive function: It not only suppresses it but may also prime women's bodies for future reproductive ventures. We conclude by reviewing challenges and opportunities within our subfield, including the need for transdisciplinary teams to develop longitudinal studies to improve our understanding of women's reproductive trajectories and outcomes from the moment they are conceived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A. Nepomnaschy
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Amanda Rowlands
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Ana Paula Prescivalli Costa
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Katrina G. Salvante
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
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DeWitte SN, Lewis M. Medieval menarche: Changes in pubertal timing before and after the Black Death. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23439. [PMID: 32567154 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bioarcheological evidence suggests stature increased in males but decreased in females after the Black Death (1348-1350 CE). Because tradeoffs between growth and reproduction can result in earlier ages at menarche and lower limb length, we assess menarcheal age between 1120 and 1540 CE to better understand the health of medieval adolescent females before and after the plague. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our sample comprises 74 adolescent females from St. Mary Spital, London (1120-1540 CE) within the age range during which menarche occurs (10-25 years). They were assessed as being pre- or post-menarcheal and divided into three groups: Early Pre-Black Death (n = 13), Late Pre-Black Death (n = 38), and Post-Black Death (n = 23). Changes in the ages of pre- and post-menarcheal females were assessed using Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS The average age of post-menarcheal females increased from the Early- to Late Pre-Black Death periods and declined after the Black Death. CONCLUSIONS Short stature can reflect unfavorable growth environments, while younger menarcheal age indicates improved living conditions. The paradoxical pattern of female, but not male, stature reduction after the Black Death might reflect the association of early menarche with lower limb length and signal that adolescent females experienced improved health conditions after the epidemic. Our focus on pre- and post-menarche within a limited age span provides a novel approach for inferring average ages of menarche over time. Pathways to skeletal development and reproductive investment are part of an integrated system, providing a bridge between life history research in bioarchaeology and human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon N DeWitte
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Mary Lewis
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, England, UK
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Canelón SP, Boland MR. A Systematic Literature Review of Factors Affecting the Timing of Menarche: The Potential for Climate Change to Impact Women's Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17051703. [PMID: 32150950 PMCID: PMC7084472 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Menarche is the first occurrence of a woman’s menstruation, an event that symbolizes reproductive capacity and the transition from childhood into womanhood. The global average age for menarche is 12 years and this has been declining in recent years. Many factors that affect the timing menarche in girls could be affected by climate change. A systematic literature review was performed regarding the timing of menarche and four publication databases were interrogated: EMBASE, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Cochrane Reviews. Themes were identified from 112 articles and related to environmental causes of perturbations in menarche (either early or late), disease causes and consequences of perturbations, and social causes and consequences. Research from climatology was incorporated to describe how climate change events, including increased hurricanes, avalanches/mudslides/landslides, and extreme weather events could alter the age of menarche by disrupting food availability or via increased toxin/pollutant release. Overall, our review revealed that these perturbations in the timing of menarche are likely to increase the disease burden for women in four key areas: mental health, fertility-related conditions, cardiovascular disease, and bone health. In summary, the climate does have the potential to impact women’s health through perturbation in the timing of menarche and this, in turn, will affect women’s risk of disease in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia P. Canelón
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA ;
| | - Mary Regina Boland
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA ;
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence:
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