Impaired enzymatic antioxidant defense in erythrocytes of women with general and abdominal obesity

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in general and abdominal obese women.

Methods: In this study, 160 women 20-45 years old were randomly selected. General information data were gathered from each sample using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated by measuring activities of copper zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in selected subjects.

Results: Mean activity of CuZn-SOD was significantly lower in overweight and obese groups compared to normal weight group (721 ± 81 vs. 987 ± 84, p < 0.01 and 638 ± 74 vs. 987 ± 84, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, both erythrocyte GSH-Px (97.6 ± 45.2 vs. 148.7 ± 54.2, p < 0.01) and CAT (184.2 ± 37.8 vs. 316.7 ± 65.8, p < 0.01) activities was significantly lower in obese women compared to normal weight women. In addition, women with abdominal obesity had lower erythrocyte CuZn-SOD (632 ± 76 vs. 871 ± 84, p < 0.001), GSH-Px (103.6 ± 52.8 vs. 154.7 ± 62.4, p < 0.01) and CAT (216.6 ± 76.4 vs. 298.3 ± 71.1, p < 0.05) activities compared to women with normal body fat distribution. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis suggests higher prediction of waist circumference (i.e. higher R(2)) on antioxidant enzyme activities in relation to other adiposity indicators.

Conclusion: Our results provides further evidence suggesting that obesity and, especially, abdominal adiposity associated with decreased antioxidant enzyme activities which in turn, may contribute to oxidative stress related to obesity.