Washington - Sandy Allen, the tallest woman in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, died in the US state of Indiana, the publication confirmed Wednesday.

The 2.31-metre tall woman died at the age of 53 at a nursing home in Shelbyville, Indiana.

Allen had been ill for a few months, a friend was quoted as saying in the Indianapolis Star. The cause of death was not known, but she suffered from blood infections, respiratory problems and diabetes.

At age 10 she was already taller than 1.90 metres. A tumour that was removed in 1977 reportedly caused her unusual growth.

"She accepted the title of 'Tallest Woman' with pride, and became an international figure, appearing as Angelina the Giantess in the Oscar-winning Fellini movie Casanova, and was the subject of countless TV documentaries," said Guinness Book editor-in-chief Craig Glenday.

Glenday defined the woman as a "gentle giant" and recalled that Allen "often made her own clothes and wore hand-me-down sneakers donated by baseball stars."