Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase as oxidative stress marker in pre-and postmenopausal Iraqi women

The primary role of gamma-glutamyltransferase is to metabolize reduced glutathione by assimilating and utilizing precursor amino acids for intracellular glutathione synthesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the exact role of gamma-glutamyltransferase enzyme in the oxidative stress associated with menopause. This study was carried out at the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, Al Nahrain University from October 2009 to January 2010. The study participants were categorized into two groups; premenopausal group [n=17] and postmenopausal group [n=16]. Blood specimens were collected from each participant by vein puncture procedure. The g-glutamyltransferase enzyme was measured by kinetic spectrophotometric method while glutathione and malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Serum glutathione levels in pre- and postmenopausal women were 0.62 +/- 0.17 and 0.47 +/- 0.11 mmol/L respectively. Serum g-glutamyltransferase levels increased significantly in the postmenopausal women group [p=0.025] compared to the premenopausal women group. Serum malondialdehyde levels were 1.04 +/- 0.06 and 1.32 +/- 0.05 mmol/L in pre- and postmenopausal groups respectively. Serum g-glutamyltransferase may be considered as an index of oxidative stress associated with menopause

Iron body status, ceruloplasmin levels and oxidative stress in pre- and postmenopausal women at baghdad city

Estimatiorfof different iron body status markers, ceruloplas-min and oxidative stress in pre- and postmenopausal women at Baghdad city. This study was performed at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of medicine, AI-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq from January 2009 to October 2009. The study consisted of 42 healthy women categorized into two groups premeno-pausal women [n= 22] aged 29.71 +/-8.92 years and postmenopausal women [n=20] aged 53.33 +/- 4.61 years. Iron, total iron binding capacity [TIBC] were measured colorimetrically, ferritin levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], ceruloplas-min level was estimated by radial immunodiffusion technique whereas malondialdehyde was quantified colorimetrically. Non-significant increase [P>0.05] in iron, ferritin levels, transferrin saturation percents in sera of postmenopausal women and non- significant increase [P>0.05] in total iron binding capacity [TIBC] transferrin, iron stores in sera of premenopausal women. Malondialdehyde increased non- significantly [P=0.44] in premenopausal women whereas ceruloplasmin increased significantly [P=0.000] in postmenopausal women group. On the other hand ferritin was correlated positively and significantly with body mass index [BMI] [r= 0.696; P < 0.05] and with ceruloplasmin levels [r=0.725; P<0.05] in pre- and postmenopausal women. Hormonal changes which usually associated with menopause may be the cause of increased oxidative stress and consequent rise in ceruloplasmin levels, as an antioxidant response