Menopausal women with moderate and asymptomatic COVID-19: antioxidant defense system biomarkers

The aim. The research was conducted to assess the total antioxidant and glutathione status, superoxide dismutase activity in menopausal women with moderate and asymptomatic COVID-19.

Materials and methods. Ninety two women 45 to 69 years old were divided into groups: women without COVID-19, not vaccinated, with no antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG) – control; women with moderate COVID-19 – main group; women with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in blood but who deny any symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 12 months – asymptomatic COVID-19.

Results. A lower glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and a higher glutathione reductase (GR) activity, glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi) concentrations were detected in the patients with moderate COVID-19 as compared to control. There were statistically lower oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, total antioxidant status (TAS) and higher reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as GSH/GSSG ratio in the group with asymptomatic COVID-19 as compared to control. Significantly a lower GPx, SOD activities and a higher TAS, GR activity, GSTpi concentrations were detected in the patients with symptomatic COVID-19 as compared to group without clinical symptoms. ROC analysis shows the diagnostic significance of TAS (AUC = 0.714; p = 0.048), GSH (AUC = 0.714; p = 0.030), GSSG (AUC = 0.712; p = 0.031), GSH/GSSG (AUC = 0.837; p < 0.001) for group with asymptomatic COVID-19 compared with controls; TAS (AUC = 0.709; p = 0.020), SOD (AUC = 0.760; p < 0.001), GSH/GSSG (AUC = 0.658; p = 0.039), GPx (AUC = 0.774; p < 0.001), GSTpi (AUC = 0.864; p < 0.001) and GR (AUC = 0.871; p < 0.001) for group with moderate COVID-19 compared asympotmatic COVID-19.

Conclusions. Antioxidant defense system activity in menopausal women depends on the COVID-19 course.

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