Poverty link to starting periods younger, UK study says

Poverty link to starting periods younger, UK study says

2011-05-29 08:02:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- A new United Kingdom study suggests that girls from poorer backgrounds are starting their periods younger, thereby increasing their risk of breast cancer, the BBC reported.

The study of 90,000 women found that girls in lower socio-economic groups with typically poorer diets began at 12.1 years on average compared to 12.5 years for wealthier girls. It also found that the women's breast cancer risk was greater as they produced the hormone estrogen longer.

According to research, the female hormone estrogen is linked to the growth of breast tumors, while levels of estrogen in the body are also influenced by diet and body weight.

"While we don't know all the reasons behind this, changes in diet may have played a part," study author Danielle Morris, from The Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey, said. "This decrease is important because the age at which a girl starts her periods can influence her chances of developing breast cancer later in life."

Previously, girls from higher socio-economic groups tended to start their periods younger because their affluence led to greater food intake and heavier body weight. But researchers say the trend appears to have reversed since girls of lower socio-economic status tend to have poorer diets and are more likely to be overweight.

The age at which girls start their periods can be added to the list of risk factors for breast cancers, which include a woman's age, alcohol intake, weight and use of hormone replacement therapy and the contraceptive pill.

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