Evaluation of oxidative stress by malondialdehyde level in blood and relationship with psychosocial stress

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress by Malondialdehyde Level in Blood and Relationship with Psychosocial Stress Introduction. Oxidative stress is a biological process, caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. Increased oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, aging and other diseases. Oxidative stress influence in atherosclerosis occur when reactive oxygen species cause lipid peroxidation. Malondialdehyde is traditional biomarker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The aim of the study was to determine oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde concentration in blood serum and evaluate its relationship with psychosocial stress and indicators associated with atherosclerosis. Methods. 202 healthy individuals aged 25 – 54 were investigated. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured and calculated body mass index. Serum concentration of MDA was measured by fluorimetrical method. Psychosocial stress was evaluated using point scale from different questions. Results. Serum MDA concentration of healthy young and middle-aged men’s was measured 99,74 µg/l. Recommended values of serum MDA concentration (38,19 – 151, 32 µg/l) had 94,1% individuals. MDA concentration was associated with age (r = 0,302; p = 0,0001 and was significally (p=0,0001) higher in middle-aged men’s group compared to young men’s age group. MDA correlated with some lipid parameters – total cholesterol (r=0,454; p=0,0001), triacylglycerols (r=0,305; p=0,0001) and LDL cholesterol (r=0,372; p=0,0001). Serum MDA concentration was related to CRP concentration (r=0,160; p=0,023) and to body mass index (r=0,235; p=0,001). MDA also was correlated with some psychosocial stress parts – social support at work (r=0,185; p=0,009), coherence (r=0,171; p=0,015) and hostility (r=0,143; p=0,042). Conculusion. MDA concentration significally corelated with age, lipid parameters, CRP, BMI and some parts of psychosocial stress questionnaire. Keywords. Oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, atherosclerosis, MDA, malondoaldehyde, psychosocial stress