A cohort study of dietary fibre intake and menarche.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of dietary fibre on menarche in a cohort of pre-menarcheal girls.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
Free-living pre-menarcheal girls (n = 637), 6 to 14 years of age.


METHODS
Information on dietary intake, physical activity and date of menarche was collected at baseline and was updated annually by self-administered questionnaires for three years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between dietary fibre and menarche, adjusting for age at entry to the study and potential confounders.


RESULTS
A higher intake of energy-adjusted dietary fibre was associated with a lower risk of (i.e. a later age at) menarche (relative hazard 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.94 for highest vs. lowest quartile, P for trend = 0.027). At the fibre component level, a higher intake of energy-adjusted cellulose was associated with a lower risk of menarche (relative hazard 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.76, P for trend = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that pre-menarcheal dietary intake can influence menarche.
Koo
Malcolm M
MM
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. m.koo@utoronto.ca
Rohan
Thomas E
TE
Jain
Meera
M
McLaughlin
John R
JR
Corey
Paul N
PN
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000886:Anthropometry; D001824:Body Constitution; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D009864:Ontario; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002482:Cellulose