New Delhi: A new study published in the journal Human Reproduction suggests that girls who follow a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains may begin menstruation at a later age. The findings hold significance as early menarche (the onset of menstruation) has been associated with increased risks of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases later in life.
The research was conducted as part of a large-scale, prospective study involving over 7,500 children aged 9 to 14. Researchers assessed the participants’ diets using two established dietary scoring systems: the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP).
The AHEI gives higher scores to healthy food choices like vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, while penalizing the intake of red and processed meats, sugary beverages, trans fats, and sodium. EDIP, on the other hand, measures the inflammatory potential of a diet. Diets high in refined grains, red meat, organ meat, and sugary drinks are considered more inflammatory and were linked with earlier menstruation.
“We observed that these two dietary patterns were associated with age at menarche, indicating that a healthier diet was linked to menstrual periods starting at an older age,” said Dr. Holly Harris, Associate Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. “Importantly, these results were independent of BMI and height, demonstrating the importance of a healthy diet regardless of body size.”
This study challenges the common belief that body weight and height alone are responsible for earlier menstruation. Instead, it highlights that the type and quality of food consumed in childhood could play a more critical role through its effect on inflammation.
Researchers emphasize the importance of providing children and adolescents with access to nutritious foods and stress the need for school meal programs to follow evidence-based nutritional guidelines. The long-term benefits of such dietary patterns may extend well into adulthood, potentially lowering the risk of several lifestyle-related diseases.
