The association of total antioxidant capacity with sex hormones.
OBJECTIVE
Although sex hormones have potential cardioprotective effects, their effects on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) are not very well known. The aim of the study was to evaluate TAC in men who have decreased and normal testosterone levels and in women in menopausal and premenopausal period.


METHODS
Ninety-seven subjects with similar age intervals, men aged <45 years and female aged <50 years, were divided into four groups: 1) 10 men with normal testosterone levels, as control, 2) 36 men with decreased testosterone, 3) 19 women in menopause, surgically induced, and 4) 32 women in premenopausal period. Testosterone and estrogen levels were measured by chemiluminescence assay and TAC were measured by using a more recently developed automated measurement method.


RESULTS
The TAC was significantly lower in Group 2 and Group 3 than those of Group 1 and Group 4 (ANOVA, p<0.001). A strong correlation between TAC, and testosterone and estrogen were found (r=0.807, p<0.001; r=0.685, p<0.001, testosterone and estrogen respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The observed relationship between sex hormones and TAC may have a role in mechanism of their cardioprotective effect.
Demirbag
Recep
R
Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Sanliurfa, Turkey. rdemirbag@yahoo.com
Yilmaz
Remzi
R
Erel
Ozcan
O
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol