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

Nadia Heydari ,1,* Soleiman mahjoub,2 Shima ebadolahi,3 Sedigheh esmailzadeh,4

1. Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
2. Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical
3. Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
4. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol Univers

Abstract

Introduction

Endometriosis is caused by the presence of ectopic endometrial stromal outside the endometrial cavity. the oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species is contributing to its complications. reduced serum magnesium (mg) level is associated with an increase biomarkers related to oxidative stress. copper (cu) is an enzymatic cofactor that is involved in oxidation and reduction reactions. given the antioxidant effects of n-acetylcysteine (nac), this study will evaluate the concentrations of serum mg, cu and total antioxidant capacity before and after of oral administration of nac in patients with endometriosis.

Methods

Our study participants included 34 women with endometriosis and 32 healthy women. in addition to routine medications, patients were treated with nac (1.8 gr/day) in a 6 week period. serum levels of magnesium and antioxidant capacity (dpph) were evaluated by spectrophotometry. serum copper concentration was evaluated by atomic absorption method.

Results

Dpph and copper were decreased in patients with endometriosis before treatment compared to healthy controls (p <0.05). additionally, dpph and cu were increased in patients after treatment (p<0.05). serum mg was significantly lower in patients after treatment by nac compared to healthy controls (p <0.05).

Conclusion

Nac is a new treatment approach for endometriosis that can improve antioxidant capacity and probably increases the ability of antioxidant enzymes, due to increased levels of copper. however, reduced mg levels observed in patients that were treated with nac. more studies are required to confirm these results and clarifying exact mechanism of magnesium variations in patients with endometriosis.

Keywords

Endometriosis, trace elements, n-acetylcysteine , dpph