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 .
Factors associated with onset of menopause in women aged 45-49.
This paper uses a cross-sectional sample of women aged 45 - 49 to investigate factors that might be associated with an early menopause . Using logistic regression analysis we found that age , smoking , age of maternal menopause , parity , social class , meat and alcohol consumption were all independently associated with an early natural menopause .  Meat , alcohol consumption and maternal menopausal age do not seem to have been previously noted as associated with the timing of the menopause . These associations would merit further study , preferably using prospect i ve data . However , this study in line with much previous work shows that smoking is associated with a reduction in menopausal age
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 .