Evaluation of vitamin D status and its correlation with oxidative stress markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: There is little evidence about antioxidant properties of vitamin D. Recent studies suggest that oxidative stress may play a major role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], but the association of vitamin D with oxidative stress is still not known in PCOS

Objective: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and oxidative stress markers in PCOS group compared to control group

Materials and Methods: 60 PCOS women [20-40 yr old] and 90 healthy women as control group were participated in this case-control study. Fasting serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D 25[OH] D, glucose, insulin, calcium, malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyl [PC], also homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] and fasting glucose to insulin ratio [FGIR] were measured

Results: It was found that the mean of serum 25[OH]D was lower in the PCOS group [10.76+/-4.17] than in the control group [12.07+/-6.26] but this difference was not statistically significant [p=0.125]. Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and MDA were significantly higher in the PCOS patients as compared to the controls, whereas PC level did not differ for the two groups [p=0.156]. No significant correlations were found between 25[OH] D levels and oxidative stress markers [MDA and PC]

Conclusion: The findings indicated no significant differences in the serum 25[OH] D levels between the PCOS patients and the matched controls. Also, no correlation was found between the serum vitamin D levels and oxidative stress markers in both groups

Effects of Regular Treadmill Exercise on a DNA Oxidative-Damage Marker and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rat Hippocampal Tissue

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Regular exercise can result in changes in the levels of oxidative stress in the hippocampus; however, little attention has been paid to physical-activity-induced neuronal protection to exposure to lead compounds. This study investigated the effects of regular treadmill exercise on a DNA oxidative-damage marker [8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)] and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of hippocampal tissue in lead-acetate exposed rats. METHODS: This study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of regular treadmill exercise on 8-OHdG and the TAC of hippocampal tissue in lead-acetate-exposed rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: baseline, sham (control), lead, and exercise+lead. The exercise program involved running on a treadmill with increasing intensity five times a week for 8 weeks. Animals in the lead and exercise+lead groups received lead acetate at 20 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally three times weekly for 8 weeks. Animals in the sham group received solvent (ethyl oleate) at 30 mg/kg body weight three times weekly for 8 weeks. TAC and 8-OHdG were measured by spectrophotometric and ELISA techniques, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test with a significance cutoff of p≤0.05. RESULTS: The level of 8-OHdG and the TAC were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the lead group than in the baseline and sham groups (p<0.01). However, the 8-OHdG level and TAC value in hippocampal tissue were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in the exercise+lead group relative to the lead group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The TAC of hippocampal tissue may be directly associated with neural protection mechanisms of exercise following lead acetate injection, and the beneficial effects of regular exercise in preventing hippocampal neuronal damage could be due to decreased hippocampal oxidative stress such as reflected by a lower 8-OHdG level and increased TAC.

Nitric oxide levels and total antioxidant capacity in the seminal plasma of infertile smoking men

Cigarette is a rich source of oxidants and reactive nitrogen species. Nitric oxide [NO] in high concentration has deleterious effects on human sperm function. Antioxidant defense system in seminal plasma protects spermatozoa from the attack of reactive oxygen metabolites. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between cigarette smoking with the NO levels and the total antioxidant capacity [TAC] of the seminal plasma in infertile smoker men and to compare severity of oxidative stress [OS] in them with fertile and infertile non-smoking men. In this cross sectional study, a total of 95 male participants attended the Infertility Clinic of the Fatehmeh-zahra Hospital in Babol, Mazandaran Province, Iran, between 2010 and 2011. They were divided into three groups: I. fertile non-smokers [F.ns; n=32], II. infertile non-smokers [IF.ns; n=30] and III. infertile smokers [IF.s; n=33] according to semen analysis World Health Organization guidelines [WHO, 2001] and smoking data. TAC concentration and NO levels of seminal plasma were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP] method and the Griess reagent, respectively. Standard sperm parameters were significantly higher in the fertile group than those in the infertile groups, but these differences between the IF.ns and IF.s were not statistically significant. The mean TAC in the seminal plasma was higher in the F.ns>IF.ns>IF.s, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant among three groups [p= 0.096]. In contrast, the mean NO level in the seminal plasma was lower in the F.ns

effects of beta-carotene and vitamin E on erythrocytes lipid peroxidation in beta-thalassemia patients

Thalassemia is the most common hereditary disease in the world. Thalassemic erythrocytes are exposed to higher oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of beta-carotene and vitamin E on erythrocytes lipid peroxidation in beta-thalassemia patients. A prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of beta-carotene and vitamin E on lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes membranes was performed on 120 beta-thalassemia major patients in four groups. The patients were supplemented for 4 weeks as follows: group 1 with beta-carotene [13 mg/day], group 2 with vitamin E [550 mg/day], group 3 with beta-carotene plus vitamin E and group 4 with placebo. We prepared all capsules for 4 roups in the same shape and color. Measurements of serum beta-carotene and vitamin E were performed by high performance liquid chromatography. After preparation of ghost cells from blood specimens, malondialdehyde [MDA] was determined as index of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes membranes before and after treatment. The levels of serum beta-carotene and vitamin E were significantly lower and MDA concentrations in erythrocytes membranes were significantly higher in beta-thalassemia patients compared to controls [P < 0.001]. In groups that treated with vitamin supplements for 4-weeks, lipid peroxidation rates were significantly reduced after treatment [P<0.001], but in placebo group there was not significant difference [P > 0.05]. Our findings provide evidence that an oral treatment with beta-carotene and vitamin E can significantly reduce lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes membranes and could be useful in management of beta-thalassemia major patients