A prospective cohort study of nutrient intake and age at menarche
Article Abstract:
Several studies have reported that girls who begin menstruation at a very young age have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Over the last decade, the average age at which menstruation begins (menarche) has decreased at a rate of two to six months per year, while the incidence of breast cancer has increased. An increase in dietary fat intake has been implicated as the cause for both of these changes. The main factor that determines the age at menarche is body fat. It has been suggested that girls who eat high-fat diets may experience rapid increases in weight gain and as a result may experience menarche at an earlier age. To investigate this issue further, the dietary habits and age at menarche of 213 girls were evaluated. At the beginning of the study all of the girls were within nine months of their 10 birthday. The parents provided information on their daughters' dietary intake by answering frequent questionnaires. At the end of four years, the responses of 192 parents to a follow-up letter indicated that 82 percent of their daughters had reached menarche. Seventy-four of the girls had reached menarche before the age of 12.5 years. On average, these girls were two centimeters taller and six pounds heavier than those who reached menarche after 12.5 years of age. The age at menarche was not related to energy, protein, fat or carbohydrate intake in the diet. It is concluded that diet can influence the age at menarche by influencing the accumulation of body fat, but that high-fat intake alone does not predict early menarche. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9165
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Registered Mental Nurses' perceived role in health education about smoking
Article Abstract:
The views of 24 Registered Mental Nurses (RMNs) on smoking are described. The nurses' perception of their roles in health education are also revealed, with the results suggesting that they have not been adequately trained to meet their potential. Health education smoking policies were also found to contradict the nurses' non-judgmental approach to patient care. The nurses' knowledge of means for helping people to quit smoking are assessed. All of those surveyed were keen to study their role in health education further.
Publication Name: Health Education Journal
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0017-8969
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: A prospective clinicopathologic study of venous invasion in colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer in a small rural hospital
- Abstracts: Testicular germ cell tumors: review of contemporary evaluation and management. Airway evaluation in children with use of ultrafast CT: pitfalls and recommendations
- Abstracts: Adenoacanthoma of the endometrium: morphological changes induced by human papillomavirus. Role of papillomaviruses
- Abstracts: Biochemical predictors of short term mortality in elderly residents of chronic care institutions
- Abstracts: Antibody coated bacteria in urine of patients with recent spinal injury. Severe granulomatous arthritis due to spinous injury by a ''sea mouse'' annelid worm