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 .
Prospective study of factors influencing the onset of natural menopause.
Late or early menopause has been implicated in risk of several chronic diseases in women . To study factors influencing the onset of natural menopause , the authors analyzed the follow-up data of 4694 premenopausal women who enrolled in the New York University Women Study at ages 34 - 61 . In an average of 5.4 years of observation , there were 2035 incidences of menopause , with the median age of 51.3 years . Current smokers experienced menopause 0.75 years earlier than never-smokers . Those who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day had a 40 % increase in risk of earlier menopause . In contrast , women who had three or more children experienced menopause 0.86 years later than nulliparous women , and Jewish women , 0.66 years later than Catholic women . There was also a modest increase in the age at menopause with increasing body mass index . This prospect i ve study provides solid epidemiologic evidence that several factors other than cigarette smoking have impact on the onset of natural menopause
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 .