Evaluation of the changes in serum lipid profile and ferritin concentrations in relation to body ascorbic acid status in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between body ascorbic acid (AA) status and serum lipid profile and ferritin concentrations in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women. The mean leukocyte and plasma ascorbate values in postmenopausal women were found to be significantly low but within acceptable ranges as compared to premenopausal women. According to these results, plasma and leukocyte AA concentrations decreased after the cessation of ovarian hormone production. In addition, significant increases in total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol but a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol were observed in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women. A close positive relationship was found between plasma and leukocyte AA and body iron status in postmenopausal women. The findings were prominent especially in the subgroup of postmenopausal women with low body AA status. Thus, it is concluded that women having low body AA concentrations might have a predisposition for iron depletion.