Women who start menstruating before the age of 13 are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes as adults, according to US research.
The risk of type 2 diabetes is often related to unhealthy eating, family history, old age, overweight, obesity, and lack of physical activity. A recent study also showed that the age of menstruation is also related to the risk of this disease.
A study by Tulane University, USA, with more than 17,000 women aged 20-65, published in early December, showed that women who had their first menstrual cycle before the age of 13 were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when they reached adulthood.
During 20 years of follow-up, from 1999 to 2018, a total of more than 10% of women developed type 2 diabetes and 11.5% developed cardiovascular disease such as coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
According to the authors, compared with women who had their first period at age 13, women who had their first period at age 10 or younger had a 32% increased risk of type 2 diabetes, at age 11 it was more than 14%, and at age 12 the risk was 29% higher.
Among women with diabetes, the risk of stroke was more than doubled for women who had their first period at age 10 or younger, at 66%. In this group, the risk of stroke was 81% higher if it started at age 11, 32% higher at age 12, and 15% higher at age 14.
The researchers concluded that girls who started menstruating at an early age were at higher risk of diabetes and its complications in adulthood and middle age. Women with diabetes also had a link between early menarche and stroke before age 65, especially those who started menstruating at age 10 or younger.
Age at menarche is associated with a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether this is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in young women with diabetes. It is possible that early first menstruation (before age 13) is one of the early signs of cardiometabolic disease in women.
According to the researchers, women who first menstruate before age 13 are exposed to estrogen for a longer period of time, and early periods are associated with higher estrogen levels, which may be a factor in the increased risk of diabetes and stroke. In addition, being overweight or obese may also play a role. Higher levels of overweight and obesity in children are associated with earlier menarche and later cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Women who begin menstruating early, especially at age 10 or younger, should be aware of changes in risk factors for early onset of the disease in early and middle adulthood. These factors include blood sugar, lipid profiles (cholesterol and triglycerides), and blood pressure.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first menstrual period usually begins between the ages of 10 and 16, with the average age being 11.9. The reasons why girls get their first period earlier may be related to increased body fat, genetics, diet, exercise, and general health.
This study's identification of diabetes risk factors helps doctors optimize early interventions to reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes and help people live healthier lives.
Mai Cat (According to Everyday Health )
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