A GLASS A DAY
Milk may prevent early menopause
UNITED STATES: Women could lower their risk of an early menopause by drinking plenty of milk, a study suggests.
While it is widely accepted that calcium is good for bone health, as well as bodily functions such as muscle contraction and blood clotting, it is the first time the nutrient has been linked to extended fertility.
A 30-year study of nearly 120,000 women, recruited when aged 25 and 49, found those with the highest intake of calcium in their diets were 13 per cent less likely to undergo menopause by the age of 45 compared to women with the least intake.
The research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Harvard University also found that high levels of vitamin D in the diet cut the chance of early menopause by 17 per cent.
Milk is the best source of calcium, and the nutrient is also abundant in leafy greens such as kale and broccoli, and oily fish such as sardines.
Dietary sources of vitamin D include fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon, cheese and egg yolks.
Epidemiology doctoral candidate Alexandra Purdue-Smithe, of the University of Massachusetts, said: ‘‘No prior studies have explicitly evaluated how vitamin D and calcium intake may be related to risk of early menopause.
‘‘We found that after adjusting for a variety of factors, vitamin D from food sources, such as fortified dairy and fatty fish, was associated with a 17 per cent lower risk of early menopause when comparing the highest intake group to the lowest intake group.’’
Early menopause affects about 10 per cent of British women and is linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline.
Those in the study with the highest intake of calcium and vitamin D drank about half a litre of fortified milk a day.
Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies have previously been implicated in polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and premenstrual syndrome.
– Telegraph Group