Some biochemical changes in postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome

ABSTRACT

Women with the metabolic syndrome are known to be at especially high risk for cardiovascular disease [CVD]. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases dramatically with menopause and may partially explain the apparent increase CVD after menopause. This study was performed to investigate the relationships between metabolic syndrome [MS] related parameters and the cardiovascular risk factors in Saudi postmenopausal women. Subjects with MS had significantly higher plasma levels of glucose, uric acid, TC, LDL-c, triacylglycerol and atherogenic index, and lower levels of HDL-c and zinc compared to subjects without MS. Also, the subjects with MS had significantly higher levels of plasma ALT, AST, transferrin, TIBC and ferritin in comparison to those without MS. Postmenopausal women with MS had significantly higher levels of plasma iron compared with control group and premenopausal women with MS. Plasma ALT was positively correlated with ferritin level, waist circumference, body mass index, iron, and AST in postmenopausal women with MS. On other hand, ferritin level was associated with the variables of metabolic syndrome [positive correlation with systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, LDL-c], and also was positively correlated with iron, and ALT. In conclusion, there is an association between postmenopausal status, MS and cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, levels of plasma ferritin are correlated with the levels of LDL-c, ALT and AST as well as with the components of metabolic syndrome in Saudi postmenopausal women. Because of the severe implications of cardiovascular diseases, counseling programs directed towards high-risk populations should be endorsed