title: Whether age of menarche is influenced by body mass index and lipoproteins profile? a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menarche, a milestone in the reproductive life span of a woman, is influenced by several genetics and environmental factors. There is no consensus regarding the impact of body mass index (BMI) and lipid profiles on the age of menarche, as the results of various studies demonstrate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between age of menarche and BMI/lipoprotein profile in a community sample of Iranian girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the study, 370 girls, aged 10-16 years, who began their menarche within six months prior to the study, were recruited from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population. Information was documented regarding their body composition, including height, weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference were collected and their lipid profiles were assessed after a 12-hour fast.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the mean±SD of age of menarche and BMI were 12.6±1.1 years and 21.7±3.9 kg/m(2), respectively. There were statistically significant relationships between age of menarche and height, BMI, waist circumference, and the maternal educational level. The relationship between age of menarche and the weight and lipid profiles of subjects was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age at menarche is not influenced by lipid profiles but it is influenced by BMI.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farahmand
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramezani Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereidoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azizi
keywords: Age of menarche; Body Mass Index; Serum lipid profile