Context:

Research indicates that dietary choices in childhood may influence the timing of menstruation, with inflammatory diets increasing the risk of early menstruation by 15% and healthier diets reducing it by 8%. An early onset of menstruation is linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases such as breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes later in life. The study utilized data from over 7,500 children, employing dietary indexes to assess the impact of diet on menstruation timing, revealing that factors other than body size, such as inflammatory diets, play a significant role. Environmental influences, including exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, also affect the age of menstruation onset. Experts emphasize the importance of providing children with healthy meal options to mitigate these risks and suggest incremental dietary improvements as beneficial steps.

Dive Deeper:

• The study explored the relationship between childhood diet and the timing of menstruation, finding that diets high in inflammatory foods are linked to an earlier onset of menstruation, which poses increased health risks for chronic diseases in adulthood.

• Using data from the Growing Up Today Study, researchers analyzed dietary patterns of children aged 9 to 14, assessing them through the Alternative Healthy Eating Index and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern, which revealed the significant impact of diet on menstruation timing.

• Early menstruation is associated with genetic and external factors, and is a marker for potential chronic health conditions such as breast cancer and diabetes, emphasizing the need for early dietary interventions.

• Environmental factors also play a role, with exposure to air pollution and endocrine-disrupting chemicals being potential contributors to early menstruation, yet mitigating exposure is challenging due to inadequate labeling of products.

• The research highlights the necessity for healthy dietary patterns in children, recommending a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, while limiting intake of red meats, refined grains, and sugary beverages.

• Experts suggest gradual dietary changes to reduce the consumption of ultraprocessed foods, which currently comprise a significant portion of children's caloric intake, as a practical approach to delaying menstruation onset.

• The findings underscore the importance of access to healthy school meals adhering to evidence-based guidelines to support children's long-term health and development.