WIDER IMPLICATION S The findings of this review indicate that alcohol consumption , particularly low and moderate alcohol intake , might be associated with later onset of menopause although the magnitude of the association is low .
BACKGROUND Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term health risks , including cardiovascular disease and premature death .
Although alcohol intake has been suggested to affect the age at which natural menopause occurs , results from observational studies are not consistent .
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In the view of the differing risks to the health of early menopause and the increasing trends in alcohol consumption in women , in this systematic review , we aim ed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset .
Reproductive and dietary determinants of the age at menopause in EPIC-Heidelberg.
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to explore the influence of reproductive and dietary factors on the age at menopause . METHODS During follow-up of the European Prospect i ve Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition ( EPIC ) cohort in Heidelberg ( median duration 5.8 years ) , 1009 women experienced natural menopause . They were compared to 3798 women who did not experience menopause .  Baseline dietary intake  was obtained by means of vali date d food frequency question naires . Data on reproductive history and medication was collected by means of question naires . Cox ' proportional hazard models were applied in order to identify determinants of the age at natural menopause . RESULTS Increasing age at first full term pregnancy and a longer time interval until occurrences of regular menses are associated with later onset of natural menopause . Compared to never smokers , current smokers have the risk of younger age at menopause . High carbohydrate consumption and high intake of vegetable , fibre and cereal products are inversely related to the age at natural menopause . Women with higher intake of total fat , protein and meat experienced a delayed onset of natural menopause . CONCLUSION Age at natural menopause is influenced by lifestyle and dietary factors . Further studies including biological markers are needed to clarify these associations
WIDER IMPLICATION S The findings of this review indicate that alcohol consumption , particularly low and moderate alcohol intake , might be associated with later onset of menopause although the magnitude of the association is low .
BACKGROUND Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term health risks , including cardiovascular disease and premature death .
Although alcohol intake has been suggested to affect the age at which natural menopause occurs , results from observational studies are not consistent .
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In the view of the differing risks to the health of early menopause and the increasing trends in alcohol consumption in women , in this systematic review , we aim ed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset .