Augusta Chinyere Nsonwu-Anyanwu - University of Calabar, Nigeria
Raymond Ekong Eworo - University of Calabar, Nigeria
Magnus Chinonye Nsonwu - Imo State University, Owerri Nigeria
Uwem Okon Akpan - University of Calabar, Nigeria
Faith Adamma Kalu - University of Calabar, Nigeria
Eberechi Ogbonna Nwevo - University of Calabar, Nigeria

Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress (OS) associated with estrogen deficiency in menopause has been implicated in various complications of menopause. Some indices of OS, bone metabolism, and uric acid (UA) in postmenopausal women were assessed as possible predictors of gouty osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: This case-control study enrolled ۴۰ postmenopausal women and ۶۰ premenopausal women as participants. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), total plasma peroxides (TPP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), inorganic phosphate (Pi), total calcium (tCa), and UA were estimated by colorimetry, estradiol (E۲) by ELISA and oxidative stress index (OSI) by calculation. Data were analyzed using t-test, correlation, and regression at P<۰.۰۵. Results: Postmenopausal women had higher UA, OSI and lipid peroxidation (higher MDA, TPP) with lower E۲, tCa, and antioxidants (reduced GSH, NO, TAC) compared to premenopausal women studied (P<۰.۰۵). Aging correlated negatively with E۲ (r=-۰.۲۷۳, P=۰.۰۰۶), TAC (r=-۰.۴۸۴, P=<۰.۰۰۱), GSH (r=-۰.۳۰۶, P=۰.۰۰۲), NO (r=-۰.۳۳۷, P=۰.۰۰۱), tCa (r=-۰.۵۷۱, P=<۰.۰۰۱) and positively with TPP (r=۰.۴۴۵, P=<۰.۰۰۱), OSI (r=۰.۴۵۴, P=<۰.۰۰۱), MDA (r=۰.۵۰۵, P=<۰.۰۰۱) and UA (r=۰.۴۴۱, P=<۰.۰۰۱) in all women studied irrespective of menopause status. There were no associations between UA, tCa, Pi, E۲, and indices of oxidative stress (TPP, TAC, OSI, MDA, GSH, NO) with menopause (R۲ =۰.۲۱۶, P=۰.۷۲۸). Conclusion: Elevated UA, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, and reduced tCa, E۲, and antioxidants observed in postmenopausal women may be associated with aging and not the menopausal status suggesting that their assessment may be utilized in predicting women at increased risk of gouty osteoarthritis.

menopause, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, bone