title: Serum lipid peroxide levels and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
abstract: Free radical reactions are involved in processes connected with aging. Estradiol acts as antioxidant and free radical scavenger, but the mechanism of this action remains unknown. Estradiol has a hydroxyphenolic structure and may donate hydrogen atoms to lipid peroxyradicals to terminate chain reactions. There are a few reports concerning the influence of estradiol on natural antioxidant enzyme activity, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between the levels of estradiol and lipid peroxide (LPO), a marker of membrane lipid peroxidation, and the correlation between estradiol and erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activity. The study included 13 premenopausal and 13 postmenopausal healthy women. Serum levels of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LPO, and erythrocyte SOD and GSH-Px activity were estimated in all subjects. Premenopausal women revealed significantly higher estradiol levels and lower LPO concentrations, as well as significantly higher GSH-Px activity than the postmenopausal group. SOD activity did not differ between the two groups. There was a negative correlation between serum estradiol and LPO levels as well as a positive correlation between estradiol and GSH-Px activity. These results support the hypothesis that estradiol exerts its antioxidant action not only through its chemical structure but probably also through its influence on natural cellular antioxidant enzyme activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, ul. Pasteura 4, Poland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bednarek-Tupikowska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bohdanowicz-Pawlak
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bidzińska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milewicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antonowicz-Juchniewicz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrzejak
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase