Relation between oxidative stress and climacteric symptoms in early postmenopausal women

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the relation between climacteric symptoms or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease and oxidative status of postmenopausal women. Methods: Cross-sectional investigation performed at the outpatient service for the menopause at University hospital, on 50 apparently healthy women in physiological post-menopause. Whole blood free oxygen radicals (FORT), free oxygen radical defence (FORD) age, months since menopause, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist girth, waist to hip ratio (WHR), estradiol, lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (glucose/insulin and HOMA-IR), and fibrinogen were evaluated. The Greene's scale with its subscales was used to evaluate climacteric symptoms. The pulsatility index (PI), an index of downstream blood flow resistance, was determined for both the internal carotid and the brachial artery. Results: WHR (r=0.540; p<0.0001), estradiol (r=0.548; p<0.0004) and waist (r=0.345; p<0.02) were independently related to blood FORT. Score of the Greene's vasomotor sub-scale was the only parameter independently related to blood FORD (r=0.55; p<0.0001). FORT was not related to artery PI, while FORD was negatively related to the PI of both internal carotid (r=549; p<0.0001) and brachial (r=0.484; p<0.0001) artery. Discussion: In postmenopausal women, abdominal adiposity and hypoestrogenism increase oxidative stress. Climacteric symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms, markedly reduce antioxidant defences. Lower antioxidant defences are associated with higher resistance to blood flow of great arteries. In women early after the menopause, visceral fat, hypo-estrogenism, and climacteric symptoms may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.