BackgroundFew data concerning the oxidative stress (OS) in plasma during the entire menstrual cycle of eumenorrheic women are available.MethodsOS was assessed in 20 healthy volunteers during the phase of the menstrual cycle by determining the plasmatic hydroperoxides levels (d-ROMs test). The assessment was performed every three days, starting from the first day (t1) up the end of the menstrual phase (t27). Concomitantly, the estrogen (E2) and progestin (P4) levels were determined at the same time intervals.ResultsFrom a base value (t1) of 284 +/− 38.0 CARR.U., which is essentially within the normal range (<300 Carratelli units or CARR.U.), the OS levels progressively increased to 378 +/− 115 CARR.U. at t15, and then slightly decreased over the subsequent time but with average values >300 CARR.U. Analysis of the E2 levels showed that the maximum OS values were noticed near the estrogen peak, while remaining above the base levels, and then decreased during the progestin phase until returning to normal at the end of the menstrual cycle.ConclusionsIt may concludes that the healthy women go into OS for 2/3 of the menstrual cycle.

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in the efficiency of biochemical and physiological processes, the functional maintenance of tissue homeostasis and an increasing susceptibility to diseases. Aging is a multifactorial process, which is genetically determined and influenced epigenetically by environment. 1 In recent years it has been well known that oxidative stress may play important roles in elderly health and, in particular, there is increasing evidence that aging might be caused by the potential and harmful effects of an accumulation of oxidative damage caused by reactive species (RS, in particular reactive oxygen species or ROS and reactive nitrogen species RNS). This evidence is supported by the "free radical theory of aging" proposed by Harman. 2

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Background: Antioxidants (AOs) represent the main barrier of defense against damaging aggression due to reactive species, in particular by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The plasma AO capacity is a measure of physiological, environmental, and nutritional factors (exposure to ROS and antioxidant supplementation) determining the redox status in humans and can underline the oxidative stress (OS) conditions in the progression/development of many diseases. Moreover, changes in AO plasma content after supplementation may provide information on the absorption and bioavailability of nutritional compounds and efficacy of AO therapy. Aim: The aim of the study was a comparison between the common BAP (Biological Antioxidant Potential) test, used for the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity, and the innovative PAT (Plasma Antioxidant Test) and to assess both the in vitro interferences of phosphates on the iron reduction and the interference of the plasmatic concentration of phosphates in relation to the plasma antioxidant capacity measured with the two methods. Methods: Thirty-six apparently healthy volunteers were involved in the study for the comparison of the two methods. Results: BAP test and PAT performed on 36 plasma samples demonstrated that plasma antioxidant capacity dosage using the BAP test resulted in overestimated levels in relation to plasma phosphate. Increased BAP values due to phosphates correspond to increased differences between BAP and PAT value (correlation coefficient R = 0.812, p = 0.001). Conclusions: PAT can be considered an innovative and predictable method for the measure of the antioxidant power of plasma.

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