Evaluation of selenium & zinc levels and antioxidant power in serum of women with endometriosis before and after administration of n-acetylcysteine

Shima Ebadollahi,1,* Soleiman mahjoub,2 Nadiya heydari,3 Sedighe esmailzadeh,4

1. Student research committee, babol university of medical science, babol, iran
2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3. Student research committee, babol university of medical science, babol, iran
4. Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of glands and endometrial stroma outside the uterine and affects approximately 5 to 15% of women in reproductive age. oxidative stress has been suggested as an important factor to involve in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. according to previous studies, zinc and selenium levels are reduced in endometriosis patients compare to women with fallopian tube-related infertility. n-acetylcysteine, as a thiol-containing compound with anti-oxidant effects, plays role in oxidation-reduction system. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of zinc and selenium levels and antioxidant power in serum of endometriosis patients, before and after nac-based treatment.

Methods

This study included 34 women (20–38 years old) with endometriosis who have received oral administration of nac(1.8g) for 6 weeks in addition to routine treatments and were compared with 32-person control group. blood samples (5ml) were taken from control group and patients before and after administration of nac. the antioxidant power (dpph test) and zn serum level were measured by spectrophotometry and se serum level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results

In endometriosis patients before treatment, the level of dpph was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). in comparison of pre- and post-treatment status, the dpph levels significantly increased in patients after treatment (p<0.05). there was a considerable difference in zn and se levels between patients who received nac and control group (p<0.05). also, zn levels was significantly increased in patients after treatment compare to pre-treatment status (p<0.05).

Conclusion

According to our results, nac can improve antioxidant indexes in endometriosis patients and these findings can be confirmed by increased levels of zn, se, dpph in patients after treatment. therefore, it is suggested to use nac as a complementary drug for endometriosis treatment.

Keywords

Endometriosis, trace elements, n-acetylcysteine