ESTIMATION OF CHOLESTEROL AND URIC ACID LEVEL IN MENOPAUSE

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a natural physiological process characterized by the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity. It commonly occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years and is associated with progressive hormonal and metabolic changes, particularly a decline in oestrogen production. These hormonal alterations may significantly affect lipid and purine metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate serum cholesterol and uric acid levels in postmenopausal women and compare them with those of premenopausal women in order to determine whether the observed changes are associated with menopause or aging.

Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out involving 100 postmenopausal women aged 45–78 years and 50 apparently healthy premenopausal women aged 20–45 years who served as controls. Serum cholesterol levels were determined using the enzymatic cholesterol oxidase-peroxidase method, while uric acid was estimated using the uricase-peroxidase method. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test with level of significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The results showed that serum cholesterol and uric acid levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal controls (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed when menopausal women were stratified according to age groups (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant age-related differences were observed among the control group.

Conclusion: menopause significantly influences serum cholesterol and uric acid levels due to hormonal changes associated with oestrogen deficiency. Regular monitoring of these biochemical parameters, together with lifestyle modifications such as healthy diet, physical activity, and weight management, is recommended for postmenopausal women.