title: Environmental and genetic factors influence age at menarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that body mass index (BMI) and DNA variants would predict age at menarche in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects aged 18-45 years with PCOS defined by the National Institutes of Health criteria (n=522) and controls with regular menstrual cycles and no hyperandrogenism (n=472) were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age at menarche was compared between PCOS cases and controls and examined as a function of multiple parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong inverse relationship between BMI and age at menarche in PCOS (r=-0.32, p=5 x lO(-11)). The chromosome 6 rs7759938-T variant was associated with earlier age at menarche in women with PCOS (12.60 +/- 0.09 vs. 13.41 +/- 0.23 years; genotype TT vs. CC; p = 0.006). Age at menarche was predicted by PCOS status (beta = 0.512, p < 0.001), reported weight group at 10-14 years (beta = -0.432, p < 0.001), current BMI (beta = -0.0202, p = 0.01), and genotype (beta = 0.169, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age at menarche in women with PCOS is influenced by BMI and genetic variants near LIN28B.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA, 02114.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Corrine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Welt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult