Drinking milk could help women avoid early menopause, a new study suggests.

While it is widely accepted that calcium is good for bone health, and bodily functions such as muscle contractions 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 who were recruited when they were aged 25 and 49, found those with 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's School of Public Health and Health Sciences and Harvard University also found that high levels of vitamin d in the diet similarly lowered the chance of early menopause by 17 per cent.

Milk is the best source of calcium, but the nutrient is also abundant in leafy greens such as kale and broccoli, and oily fish like sardines. Dietary sources of vitamin d include fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon, cheese and egg yolks.