In the largest study of its kind to date, the timing
of puberty was found to have a wide range of impacts
on health in later life.
Researchers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the
University of Cambridge found that the age at which
both men and women begin puberty is associated with
48 different health conditions.
The study, published today in Scientific Reports,
confirms previous findings that early puberty in
women is a risk factor for heart disease and type 2
diabetes, and showed, for the first time, that early
puberty in men also influences these same
conditions.
In addition, new links were found between the timing
of puberty and a wider range of health conditions,
including irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis,
glaucoma, psoriasis and depression in men and women,
and also early menopause in women.
Researchers tested data from nearly half a million
people in UK Biobank, a national study for health
research funded primarily by the MRC and the
Wellcome Trust. Participants were asked to recall
puberty-timing by remembering the age of their first
monthly period for women and age at voice-breaking
for men.
Those in the earliest or latest 20% to go through
puberty had higher risks for late life disease when
compared to those in the middle 20%, including
around 50% higher relative risks for type 2
diabetes, heart disease and poor overall health.
Furthermore, these disease links were not simply
explained by weight or obesity.
It was previously thought that only those
individuals with relatively early puberty were more
susceptible to a handful of specific diseases.
Dr Felix Day, lead author of the study at the MRC
Epidemiology Unit, said: “Up until now, the link
between early puberty and risk of disease has been
blamed on weight and obesity, but our findings
suggest that men and women of a normal weight who go
through puberty relatively early or late may also
carry these risks.
"Though a study of this kind cannot distinguish
between cause and effect, other evidence does point
to a causal link between puberty and certain
diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.”
Dr John Perry, Senior Investigator Scientist at the
MRC Epidemiology Unit, added: “We are continuing to
work to understand how puberty timing impacts later
health and how this information may be used
alongside efforts to support healthy lifestyle
changes and prevent disease.
“It is important to note that the increase in
disease risk attributable to puberty timing is still
relatively modest and represents one of many factors
that contribute to the overall risk of developing
disease.”
The research was funded by the MRC.
The timing of puberty varies significantly between
individuals, with the normal onset of puberty
ranging from 8 to 13 in girls and from 9 to 14 in
boys.
UK Biobank recruited 500,000 people aged between
40-69 years in 2006-2010 from across the UK.
Participants have undergone measures, provided
blood, urine and saliva samples for future analysis,
detailed information about themselves and agreed to
have their health followed.
For more information
Day, F. R. et al. Puberty timing associated with
diabetes, cardiovascular disease and also diverse
health outcomes in men and women: the UK Biobank
study. Sci. Rep. 5, 11208;
doi: 10.1038/srep11208 (2015)
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