Yi KH, et al. - The specialists attempted this study to investigate the association between early menarche (<12 years) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in premenopausal women and to clarify whether it was induced by adult obesity and insulin resistance. They discovered that early menarche was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in young and middle aged premenopausal Korean women.

Methods

• From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2009), data of premenopausal women, aged 15 or older were reviewed.
• The women were divided into 3 groups: early menarche, reference (12.00–15.99 years), and late menarche. 
• With hepatic steatosis index over 36.0, the presence of NAFLD was determined.

Results

• Only 673 (15.4%) subjects fulfilled the criteria for NAFLD, out of 4387 women.
• In both women with early and late menarche, the prevalence of NAFLD were higher compared with reference (early, 23.4%; reference, 14.0%; late, 19.9%, P <0.001).
• After adjustment of confounders including age, the OR for NAFLD in early menarche comparing the reference was 3.04 (95% CIs: 1.99 4.65). 
• Further adjustment of mediators, like central obesity or insulin resistance, attenuates the association to 1.91 and 2.17, but significant. 
• No association was observed between late menarche and NAFLD after adjustment of confounders.