EVALUATION OF THE CHANGES IN SERUM-LIPID PROFILE AND FERRITIN CONCENTRATIONS IN RELATION TO BODY ASCORBIC-ACID STATUS IN HEALTHY PREMENOPAUSAL AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between body ascorb ic acid (AA) status and serum lipid profile and ferritin concentration s in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women. The mean leukocyte and pla sma ascorbate values in postmenopausal women were found to be signific antly low but within acceptable ranges as compared to premenopausal wo men. According to these results, plasma and leukocyte AA concentration s decreased after the cessation of ovarian hormone production. In addi tion, significant increases in total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL -cholesterol but a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol were observ ed in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women. A close positive relationship was found between plasma and leukocyte AA and b ody iron status in postmenopausal women. The findings were prominent e specially in the subgroup of postmenopausal women with low body AA sta tus. Thus, it is concluded that women having low body AA concentration s might have a predisposition for iron depletion.