Opposing influences of prenatal and postnatal growth on the timing of menarche.
OBJECTIVE
Menarche is a milestone of reproductive development, and its timing may be differentially influenced by the growth conditions before birth and those between birth and puberty. The present study explored the relationships among menarcheal timing and markers of prenatal and midchildhood growth in healthy Australian girls.


METHODS
A total of 156 girls aged 8 yr from a birth cohort of full-term babies had height, weight, and waist circumference measured. One hundred three girls had dual x-ray absorptiometry performed and blood analyzed for insulin, leptin, IGF-I, estradiol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. Girls were followed up at age 15 yr and their age of menarche was recorded.


METHODS
Measures included age of menarche; birth weight and birth length; height, weight, waist circumference, and body composition by dual x-ray absorptiometry; and plasma insulin, leptin, IGF-I, estradiol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate at age 8 yr.


RESULTS
Girls with earlier menarche were light and long at birth and had higher total and central adiposity and IGF-I and estradiol levels in midchildhood, compared with those with later menarche. Age of menarche was best predicted by combining size at birth and body mass index z score at age 8 yr (r2 = 0.12; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The timing of menarche appears to be influenced in opposing directions by pre- and postnatal growth. Menarche was found to occur earlier in girls who were long and light at birth and who had a higher fat mass and circulating IGF-I in childhood. These findings may partly explain ethnic differences and secular trends in the age of menarche.
Tam
Charmaine S
CS
Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. charmait@chw.edu.au
de Zegher
Francis
F
Garnett
Sarah P
SP
Baur
Louise A
LA
Cowell
Christopher T
CT
D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D011628:Puberty, Delayed; D011629:Puberty, Precocious; D012044:Regression Analysis
D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I