Age at menarche and its association with the metabolic syndrome and its components

The metabolic syndrome is a major public health challenge and
identifies persons at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at
menarche and the metabolic syndrome (IDF and NCEP ATP III
classification) and its components. 1536 women aged 32 to 81 years
of the German population based KORA F4 study were investigated.
Data was collected by standardized interviews, physical
examinations, and whole blood and serum measurements. Young age at
menarche was significantly associated with elevated body mass index
(BMI), greater waist circumference, higher fasting glucose levels,
and 2 hour glucose (oral glucose tolerance test), even after
adjusting for the difference between current BMI and BMI at age 25.
The significant effect on elevated triglycerides and systolic blood
pressure was attenuated after adjustment for the BMI change. Age at
menarche was inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome
adjusting for age (p-values: