Lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative status in peri- and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of perimenopause and postmenopause on lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress in women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 117 women (47 ± 6 years) classified as perimenopausal (n = 47), postmenopausal (n = 40), or non-menopausal (n = 30). In serum, we analyzed lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Pro-oxidant status was assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls. Antioxidant defense was performed by analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities.

Results: Compared to non-menopausal women, triacylglycerols (TG) were similar, total cholesterol and LDL-C were higher in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, while HDL-C concentrations were decreased. TNF-α and IL-1α were higher in postmenopausal women, while CRP concentrations were elevated in both peri-and postmenopausal women (p < 0.05). TBARS and carbonyls were increased in peri- and postmenopausal women (p < 0.05). SOD and CAT activities were decreased in postmenopausal women (p < 0.05) and elevated in perimenopausal women.

Conclusion: Menopausal transition and postmenopause were associated with dyslipidemia, inflammation, and unbalanced oxidative status exposing women to cardiovascular risk.

Chinese abstract

目的: 评估女性围绝经期和绝经后血脂代谢, 炎症反应以及氧化反应的改变对心血管疾病发病风险的影响。

方法: 对入选该研究的117名女性 (47 ± 6岁) 采用横断面研究, 其中围绝经期女性47名, 绝经后女性40名, 未绝经女性30名。我们检测血清中的血脂水平, 肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF-α) , 白介素-1α (IL-1α) , 及C反应蛋白 (CRP) 的浓度。氧化反应评估通过检测硫代巴比妥酸反应物 (TBARS) 及蛋白质羰基的水平。抗氧化反应通过检测超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 和过氧化氢酶 (CAT) 的活性来评估。

结果: 围绝经期和绝经后女性与月经正常的的女性相比, 血清甘油三酯 (TG) 的水平相似, 但总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白-C (LDL-C) 水平升高, 而高密度脂蛋白-C (HDL-C) 的浓度下降。绝经后女性的血清TNF-a以及IL-1a的水平较高, 而围绝经期和绝经后的女性CRP的浓度都是显著升高的 (p < 0.05) 。围绝经期和绝经后的女性血液的氧化反应指标TBARS和蛋白质羰基都是显著升高的 (p < 0.05) 。而抗氧化反应指标SOD和CAT的活性在绝经后的妇女显著降低 (p < 0.05) 但是在围绝经期妇女血液中是升高的。

结论: 绝经过渡期以及绝经后血脂代谢的异常改变以及炎症反应和氧化反应的失衡使得妇女容易暴露于心血管疾病的风险之中。

Keywords:

• Antioxidant defense
• inflammation
• perimenopause
• postmenopause
• pro-oxidant

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.