17-β-Estradiol in relation to age at menarche and adult obesity in premenopausal women

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2008-04, Vol.23 (4), p.919-927
• Main Authors: Emaus, A., Espetvedt, S., Veierød, M.B., Ballard-Barbash, R., Furberg, A.-S., Ellison, P.T., Jasienska, G., Hjartåker, A., Thune, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17-β-estradiol; Adult; adult body fatness; age at menarche; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; breast cancer risk; Breast Neoplasms; Estradiol - analysis; Estradiol - physiology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Menarche - physiology; Menstrual Cycle - physiology; Norway; Obesity - physiopathology; Premenopause; Risk Factors; Saliva - chemistry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist-Hip Ratio
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dem432

BACKGROUND We hypothesize that premenopausal endogenous estradiol may be associated with age at menarche and adult overweight and obesity, potentially contributing to breast cancer risk. METHODS We assessed age at menarche by questionnaire among 204 healthy Norwegian women, aged 25–35 years. Measures of body composition included body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), waist circumference (WC, cm), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and fat percentage dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, (DEXA). Daily salivary 17-β-estradiol (E2) concentrations were collected throughout one entire menstrual cycle and assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Linear regression analyses and linear mixed models for repeated measures were used and potential confounding factors and effect modifiers were tested. RESULTS Among women with an early age at menarche (≤12 years), the overall mean salivary E2 concentration increased by 3.7 pmol/l (95% confidence interval, 1.8–5.7 pmol/l) with each 9.8 cm (1 SD) increase in WC, which represents a 20.7% change in the mean for the total group. Among the same early maturers, a 1 SD (0.06) change in WHR was directly associated with a 24.0% change in mean E2 concentration for the total group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the hypothesis that early age at menarche, together with adult overweight and obesity, result in high levels of 17-β-estradiol throughout the menstrual cycle.