ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ovariectomy on bone mineral density [BMD] and oxidative state in rats, and the alterations in these effects that vitamin C supplementation may produce. Twenty female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control [C, n=6]; ovariectomy [O, n=7]; and ovariectomy+vitamin C supplement [OV, n=7]. Oxidative stress [OS] was assessed 100 days postovariectomy by measuring the activity of several enzymes, including catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the concentrations of malondialdehyde [MDA], nitric oxide [NO], and total sulfhydryl groups in plasma and bone homogenates. A significant decrease in BMD was observed in O group compared with C group [p=0.015], and a significant increase was observed in OV compared with O group [p=0.003]. When groups were compared with respect to parameters of OS, MDA and NO levels in bone tissue were significantly higher in O than in C [p=0.032, p=0.022] and were significantly lower in OV than in O [p=0.025, p=0.018]. SOD activity was significantly higher in O than in C [p=0.032]. In plasma, MDA activity was significantly higher in O than in C [p=0.022] and NO level was significantly higher in O than in C and OV [p=0.017, p=0.018]. Our results suggest that ovariectomy may produce osteoporosis and OS in females, and vitamin C supplementation may provide alterations regarding improvement in OS and BMD values. We assume that studies including more subjects are needed to make a decisive conclusion about OS-BMD relation