title: Menarcheal Age and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Community-Based Cohort Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been reported that early menarche is associated with higher risk for type 2 diabetes. We aimed to explore the association between age at menarche and risk of type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the purpose of the present study, 5191 subjects of reproductive age who were participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study and also met the eligibility criteria were selected. Demographic, lifestyle, reproductive, and anthropometric data as well as risk factors for metabolic diseases were collected. Menarcheal age was categorized into five categories, as <11 years, 11-12 years, 13-14 years, 15-16 years, and >17 years. Diabetes and pre-diabetes were defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk of the menarcheal age group for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5625 participants, 673 women had pre-diabetes and 187 had diabetes. Early menarche was associated with higher risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes, compared to the reference group (13-14 years), (OR=3.55, 95% CI: 1.6-7.8 and OR=2.55, 95% CI:1.4-4.8, respectively), an association which remained after further adjustment for potential confounders including family history of diabetes, parity, education, age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking history, physical activity, and duration of oral contraceptives use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed early menarche to be a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farahmand
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center,Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Phone:+98 212 243 25 00 E-mail: ramezani@endocrine.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Fahimeh Ramezani
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Tehrani
authors.forename: Marzieh Rostami
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dovom
authors.forename: Fereidoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azizi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Menarcheal age; blood glucose; reproductive age noncommunicable disease.