Premature ovarian failure risk factors in an Iranian population

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine possible correlates of premature ovarian failure (POF) in an Iranian population. METHODS In a case-control study, 80 patients with POF were compared with 80 controls enrolled from the same setting during 2007-2008. A food diary was used to assess food consumption habits. RESULTS Mean age of starting ovarian failure symptoms was 19.3 ± 5.7 years and mean age of menopause was 22.6 ± 6.3 years. Familial coincidence was observed in 16 POF patients versus no one in the control group (P < 0.05). POF patients had lower frequency of both eating red meat and fish when compared with controls (P < 0.001). POF and control subjects consumed similar amounts of dairy products, being 5.3 ± 3.2 times per week in POF and 5.6 ± 2.1 times in the control groups. CONCLUSION In this study, an association between POF and lower red meat or fish consumption was found.