1Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar
2Assistant Professor, Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur
3Professor, Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur
4Associate Professor, Biochemistry, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur
*Corresponding author: Mamta Mahla, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Sitapura, Jaipur (Raj.) Mobile: +91 94149 64440. E-mail: mamtamahla@gmail.com
Online published on 4 April, 2014.
Free oxygen radicals have been proposed as important causative agents of ageing and menopause is a natural step in the process of ageing. The intricate balance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species seems to be disturbed in post-menopausal women due to deficiency of estrogen, which is a powerful antioxidant. In view of this background, present study was carried out to find correlation between menopause and oxidative stress, if any.
Oxidative stress was evaluated in 105 women by estimating levels of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid, and malondialdehyde in blood/serum spectrophotometrically. The subjects consisted of 35 women of three distinct groups, namely, reproductive age, peri-menopausal, and postmenopausal. Data obtained was analyzed by student's t- test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Peri- and post-menopausal women exhibited significantly low erythrocyte SOD and serum ascorbic acid levels and significantly high serum MDA levels as compared to the women of reproductive age.
Findings of this study corroborate the hypothesis that gradual loss of ovarian function is associated with a concomitant increase in oxidative stress as exhibited by increased MDA levels and decreased levels of antioxidants.
Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Menopause, Oxidative Stress, Malondialdehyde, Superoxide Dismutase
