BackgroundMenopause is the onset of aging in women. During this process, some women experience physical changes that may impact upon their psychological and social status, also affecting their quality of life. Furthermore, several psychological changes following menopause have been shown to act as pro-oxidant, but the association between the psychological status that modify the quality of life and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determinate the relationship between oxidative stress with psychological disturbances, low self-esteem, depressive mood and anxiety, and quality of life in the postmenopausal women.MethodsWe carried out a cross-sectional study with101 premenopausal and 101 postmenopausal women from Mexico City. As markers of oxidative stress we measured plasma lipoperoxide levels, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and total antioxidant status. We calculate a stress score as global oxidative stress status, with cut-off values for each parameter; this score range from 0 to 6, representing the severity of markers modifications. All the women were rated using the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales, and the WHO Quality of Life-brief.ResultsThe postmenopausal women with low quality of life in the WHO Quality of Life-brief and their subscales had higher stress score compared with premenopausal women with high quality of life (p < 0.05). We found a positive correlation among lipoperoxide levels and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Zung Self-Rating Depression score (r = 0.226 and r = 0.173, respectively, p < 0.05), and a negative correlation with WHO Quality of Life-brief scores (r = −0.266, p < 0.01) in postmenopausal women. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that average lipoperoxide levels increase by 0.0007 μmol/L for every 1-point increase in the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and by 0.001 μmol/L for every 1-point decrease in the WHO Quality of Life-brief, after adjusted for pro-oxidant factors. Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales scores also contribute to increase lipoperoxides levels, but not significant.ConclusionOur findings suggest that oxidative stress is increased in postmenopausal women with psychological disturbances and low quality of life.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral hormone therapy (HT) on oxidative stress (OS) in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out. We formed four groups of 25 women each; healthy (HW) and MetS women (MSW) were assigned to HT (1 mg/day of estradiol valerate plus 5 mg/10 day of medroxiprogesterone) or placebo. We measured plasma lipoperoxides, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, total plasma antioxidant status and uric acid, as OS markers. Alternative cut-off values of each parameter were defined and a stress score (SS) ranging from 0 to 7 was used as total OS. MetS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria. Participants were seen at baseline, 3 and 6 months. After 6 months, MetS decreased in MSW-HT (48%), their triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) improved; in the other groups no difference was found. SS in MSW-HT decreased (3.8 ± 0.3 to 1.7 ± 0.3, p < 0.05) and OS was also reduced (44%), this effect was evident since 3 mo. HW-HT with high OS also decreased (40%). In placebo groups there was no change. Our findings suggest that HT improve lipids and OS associated to MetS in postmenopausal women.

Low bone mineral density (BMD) on postmenopausal women causes bone fragility and fracture risk. Tibolone seems to prevent bone loss. Therefore, this systematic review with meta-analysis synthesizes the tibolone effect on BMD percent change in lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) in postmenopausal women. Controlled trials that provided tibolone evidence on the efficacy of tibolone in preventing loss of BMD were included. Regarding the included studies, a pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) was estimated to determine the BMD percentage change. Eleven studies were identified and eight were included in the quantitative analysis. Tibolone at a dose of 2.5 mg increased BMD compared with non-active controls at 24 months in LS (MD 4.87%, 95%CI: 4.16–5.57, and MD 7.35%, 95%CI: 2.68–12.01); and FN (MD 4.85%, 95%CI: 1.55–8.15, and 4.21%, 95%CI: 2.99–5.42), with Hologic and Lunar scanners, respectively. No difference was observed when tibolone 2.5 mg dose was compared with estrogen therapy (ET) at 24 months, LS (MD −0.58%, 95%CI: −3.77–2.60), FN (MD −0.29%, 95%CI: −1.37–0.79), and TH (MD −0.12%, 95%CI: −2.28–2.53). Therefore, tibolone increases BMD in LS and FN compared to non-active controls, and there was no showed difference with ET.

¿Cómo realizar un meta-análisis?. Lineamientos para su elaboración e interpretaciónHow to perform a meta-analysis?. Guidelines for its elaboration and interpretation

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