Duration of menopause and behavior of malondialdehyde, lipids, lipoproteins and carotid wall artery intima-media thickness

Aim: our study assessed whether minor or major hormonal deficiency influenc ed oxidative status and vascular wall structure in menopausal women. Method s: the study series was made up of 62 non hypertensive non diabetic menopau sal women (mean age 52.3 +/- 4.7 years) divided into two groups depending o n duration of menopause (group 1 duration 0-5 years; group 2 duration over 5 years). Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and common carotid arter y wall intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined in the entire series. R esults: mean TC LDL-C, TG, MDA and IMT values were higher in group 2 than g roup 1. The intergroup difference between MDA (P < 0.007) and IMT values (P < 0.006) values was statistically significant. Conclusions: the study reve aled a close temporal correlation between plasma oxidative stress and carot id wall IMT, jeopardizes vascular wall status as menopause proceeds. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.