title: Association of oxidative stress and memory performance in postmenopausal women receiving estrogen-progestin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the association between changes in blood oxidative stress level/activity and changes in memory performance among postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 39 postmenopausal women who received estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) for 16 weeks. Verbal learning and memory performance were assessed using the Malay Version of Auditory Verbal Learning Test before and after 16 weeks of EPT. Oxidative stress levels/activities before and after 16 weeks of EPT were determined using commercially available kits. Data were analyzed using paired t test and r. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase were considerably increased (P < 0.05), but the level of 4-hydroxynonenal was notably decreased (P < 0.05), after 16 weeks of EPT. There were positive correlations between changes in plasma superoxide dismutase and changes in trial A2 scores (r = 0.36, P < 0.05), and between changes in the ratio of blood reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione and changes in trial A2 scores (r = 0.34, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sixteen weeks of EPT increase blood antioxidant capacity. However, most of the changes in oxidative stress level/activity are not significantly associated with changes in the memory performance of postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nazlahshaniza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shafin
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Nik Hazlina Nik
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Zahiruddin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Othman
mesh_terms: D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012094:Repression, Psychology
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; D004958:Estradiol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide