title: 17β-estradiol levels and oxidative balance in a population of pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high incidence of various diseases observed in post-menopausal women has been widely associated to the decline of 17β-estradiol (E2) occurring in correspondence of menopausal transition. One of the mechanisms suggested to explain this link takes into account the ability of E2 to counteract oxidative stress (OS) which is believed to play an important role in several pathogenic processes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether stages of women's life characterized by different levels of E2 influence OS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross sectional study of OS markers in 159 women subdivided in 65 pre-menopausal, 36 peri-menopausal, and 58 post-menopausal classified according to the Staging of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) criteria. E2, follicle-stimulating hormone, and markers of OS including hydroperoxides, thiols, uric acid, total and residual antioxidant power, were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for covariates, only total antioxidant power was significantly different according to menopausal status (p <0.01), with lower value in pre- with respect peri- and post-menopausal women. No significant correlations between E2 levels and OS markers were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endogen E2, and, consequently, its decline during menopausal transition, is not a determinant factor for OS.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Cervellati
authors: Francesco Saverio
authors: FS
authors: Pansini
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Bonaccorsi
authors: Carlo Maria
authors: CM
authors: Bergamini
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Patella
authors: Ferruccio
authors: F
authors: Casali
authors: Gian Franco
authors: GF
authors: Fantini
authors: Giuliana
authors: G
authors: Pascale
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Castaldini
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Ferrazzini
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Ridolfi
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Cervellati
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Cremonini
authors: Panagiota
authors: P
authors: Christodoulou
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Bagni