Diet and Nutrients Intakes during Infancy and Childhood in Relation to Early Puberty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The onset of puberty has become earlier over the decades, and nutrients and diet are related to the timing of puberty onset. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association between diet or nutrients in infancy, childhood and early puberty. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched systematically up to 15 April 2022. The pooled relative risks (RRs) or regression coefficients (beta) were estimated using the random-effect model or fixed-effect model according to the heterogeneity between studies. Twenty-two articles on diet or nutrients in childhood and six about breastfeeding in infancy were included. The prolonged breastfeeding duration in infancy could reduce the risk of early menarche (beta 0.31, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.60, p = 0.045). The high intake of yogurt was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk of earlier menarche (RR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.89, p = 0.008). Girls with severe food insecurity experienced later menarche (RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.98, p = 0.027). Conversely, due to the high intake of protein, the risk of early menarche increased by 8% (RR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.16, p = 0.016). High intake of yogurt, longer duration of breastfeeding, and food insecurity decreased the possibility of earlier menarche, while high intake of protein increased that risk. As a modifiable factor, diet and nutrients in infancy and childhood provide new insights into the future prevention of early puberty.

Menarquia en adolescentes de zona urbana y periurbana de encarnación y su asociación con estado nutricional y menarquia materna. Año 2022

“…La mayoría de los estudios coinciden en que existe una relación entre la obesidad y el desarrollo de una pubertad precoz, basándose en datos objetivos como el IMC y la cantidad de tejido adiposo . (23,24) La obesidad se ha posicionado como la patología nutricional más frecuente en este siglo y su asociación con el inicio temprano de la menarquia obliga a analizar el patrón alimentario y los hábitos que predisponen o protegen contra su aparición tal (25) como lo demuestra el estudio de Yang y cols (2022) en el que observaron que la lactancia materna, la ingesta de yogur y la menor ingesta calórica retrasarían la menarquia mientras que por otro lado, el consumo de grandes cantidades de proteínas podrían adelantar su inicio.…”

Breast and Formula Milk and Early Puberty Onset

“…This correlation finds support in the interconnected factors that contribute to the relationship between breast milk and the prevention of excessive weight gain and early puberty. These elements encompass insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels, leptin levels, bioactive nutrients present in both human and formula milk, the composition of the microbiome, and the aptitude for self-regulated feeding [6,[32][33][34]. Elevated IGF-1 levels manifest both in formula-fed infants [32] and infants experiencing swift weight gain in early months [35].…”

Are concepts of adolescence from the Global North appropriate for Africa? A debate

“…Development of secondary sexual characteristics occurs during adolescence, with well-defined stages (measured using Tanner Pubertal Staging) including development of breasts and occurrence of menarche in females and penile and testicular growth in males. This is a universal phenomenon with little difference in the timing of puberty between countries, but there is individual-level variability that may be driven by factors such as food insecurity or emotional deprivation 4 5…”