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Age at menarche in relation to adult height

Onland-Moret, NC ; Peeters, PHM ; van Gils, CH ; Clavel-Chapelon, F ; Key, T ; Tjonneland, A ; Trichopoulou, A ; Kaaks, R ; Manjer, Jonas LU and Panico, S , et al. (2005) In American Journal of Epidemiology 162(7). p.623-632
Abstract
In the last two centuries, age at menarche has decreased in several European populations, whereas adult height has increased. It is unclear whether these trends have ceased in recent years or how age at menarche and height are related in individuals. In this study, the authors first investigated trends in age at menarche and adult height among 286,205 women from nine European countries by computing the mean age at menarche and height in 5-year birth cohorts, adjusted for differences in socioeconomic status. Second, the relation between age at menarche and height was estimated by linear regression models, adjusted for age at enrollment between 1992 and 1998 and socioeconomic status. Mean age at menarche decreased by 44 days per 5-year birth... (More)
In the last two centuries, age at menarche has decreased in several European populations, whereas adult height has increased. It is unclear whether these trends have ceased in recent years or how age at menarche and height are related in individuals. In this study, the authors first investigated trends in age at menarche and adult height among 286,205 women from nine European countries by computing the mean age at menarche and height in 5-year birth cohorts, adjusted for differences in socioeconomic status. Second, the relation between age at menarche and height was estimated by linear regression models, adjusted for age at enrollment between 1992 and 1998 and socioeconomic status. Mean age at menarche decreased by 44 days per 5-year birth cohort (beta = -0.12, standard error = 0.002), varying from 18 days in the United Kingdom to 58 days in Spain and Germany. Women grew 0.29 cm taller per 5-year birth cohort (standard error = 0.007), varying from 0.42 cm in Italy to 0.98 cm in Denmark. Furthermore, women grew approximately 0.31 cm taller when menarche occurred 1 year later (range by country: 0.13-0.50 cm). Based on time trends, more recent birth cohorts have their menarche earlier and grow taller. However, women with earlier menarche reach a shorter adult height compared with women who have menarche at a later age. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
body height, menarche, Europe
in
American Journal of Epidemiology
volume
162
issue
7
pages
623 - 632
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000232102900004
  • pmid:16107566
  • scopus:26444496446
ISSN
0002-9262
DOI
10.1093/aje/kwi260
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f4d7c4c-8fa4-4afd-85da-7f65127085d2 (old id 891613)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:44:16
date last changed
2022-04-20 21:03:21
@article{8f4d7c4c-8fa4-4afd-85da-7f65127085d2,
  abstract     = {{In the last two centuries, age at menarche has decreased in several European populations, whereas adult height has increased. It is unclear whether these trends have ceased in recent years or how age at menarche and height are related in individuals. In this study, the authors first investigated trends in age at menarche and adult height among 286,205 women from nine European countries by computing the mean age at menarche and height in 5-year birth cohorts, adjusted for differences in socioeconomic status. Second, the relation between age at menarche and height was estimated by linear regression models, adjusted for age at enrollment between 1992 and 1998 and socioeconomic status. Mean age at menarche decreased by 44 days per 5-year birth cohort (beta = -0.12, standard error = 0.002), varying from 18 days in the United Kingdom to 58 days in Spain and Germany. Women grew 0.29 cm taller per 5-year birth cohort (standard error = 0.007), varying from 0.42 cm in Italy to 0.98 cm in Denmark. Furthermore, women grew approximately 0.31 cm taller when menarche occurred 1 year later (range by country: 0.13-0.50 cm). Based on time trends, more recent birth cohorts have their menarche earlier and grow taller. However, women with earlier menarche reach a shorter adult height compared with women who have menarche at a later age.}},
  author       = {{Onland-Moret, NC and Peeters, PHM and van Gils, CH and Clavel-Chapelon, F and Key, T and Tjonneland, A and Trichopoulou, A and Kaaks, R and Manjer, Jonas and Panico, S and Palli, D and Tehard, B and Stoikidou, M and Bueno-De-Mesquita, HB and Boeing, H and Overvad, K and Lenner, P and Quiros, JR and Chirlaque, MD and Miller, AB and Khaw, KT and Riboli, E}},
  issn         = {{0002-9262}},
  keywords     = {{body height; menarche; Europe}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{623--632}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Age at menarche in relation to adult height}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwi260}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/aje/kwi260}},
  volume       = {{162}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}