title: Polymorphisms in adiposity-related genes are associated with age at menarche and menopause in breast cancer patients and healthy women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is there any effect of genetic polymorphisms in adiposity-related genes on the timing of menarche and menopause and the total duration of menstruation among Korean women?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the adiposity-related genes LEP, LEPR and PPARγ may play a role in the onset and cessation of menstruation, and the total duration of menstruation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous candidate-gene approaches have mainly presented the results for genes related to the estrogen metabolism pathway. Most genes of interest that participate in steroid-hormone metabolism, such as estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β, have been associated with age at menarche and menopause. This study shows the possibility that adiposity-related genes also influence the duration of menstruation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 400 breast cancer patients and 452 healthy participants from a case-control study at the Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center in Korea. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) genes were investigated to evaluate their possible effects on menstruation. Associations between SNPs and age at menarche, age at menopause and duration of menstruation were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four SNPs (rs2167270 of LEP, rs7602 of LEPR and rs4684846 and rs3856806 of PPARγ) were associated with late menarche (≥ 17-year-old). Four SNPs (rs2167270 of LEP and rs1801282, rs2120825, and rs3856806 of PPARγ) were associated with early menopause (<40-year-old) among post-menopausal women. In logistic regression models with covariate adjustment, women with the GG genotype of rs7602 (LEPR) had a higher risk for late menarche [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-3.31] compared with their counterparts carrying the GA or AA genotypes. In addition, the GG genotype of rs2167270 (LEP) was inversely associated with a duration of menstruation of <30 years (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.31-1.00) compared with the GA or AA genotypes. BIAS, LIMITATIONS AND GENERALIZABILITY TO OTHER POPULATIONS: We obtained information on the age at menarche and menopause from self-administered questionnaires, and some participants might have had difficulty in remembering their age at menarche and menopause. However, this is a non-differential misclassification and should not appreciably affect the interpretation of the results of this study.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Branch,  Research Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsanro Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-di 410-769,  Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyee-Zu
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Aesun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yeon-Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sook-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeonju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics*; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D047495:PPAR gamma; D054411:Receptors, Leptin