Serum Oxidative Stress Markers in Women with Uterine Fibroids in Lagos, Nigeria

Adaiah Soibi‐Harry, Christian Chigozie Makwe, Ayodeji A. Oluwole, Sunusi Rimi Garba, Abisoye Towuromola Ajayi, Roosevelt Anyanwu, Rose Anorlu
In: medRxiv · 2021 · doi:10.1101/2021.07.07.21260056 · W3180248973
preprint OA: green CC0 ⤵ 1 in-corpus citation
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Women with uterine fibroids in Lagos, Nigeria exhibited significantly lower serum antioxidant levels and higher oxidant levels, with fibroid size correlating positively with oxidants and negatively with antioxidants.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This study evaluated oxidative stress by measuring serum antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) and oxidant biomarkers (protein carbonyl and advanced oxidation protein products) in 44 women with ultrasound-diagnosed uterine fibroids and 44 women without fibroids in a university teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, alongside pelvic ultrasonography to assess fibroid size. Women with fibroids had significantly lower median antioxidant levels (CAT, SOD, GPx) and significantly higher median oxidant levels (PC and AOPP), with a strong negative correlation between AOPP and SOD in the fibroid group. Fibroid maximum diameter correlated positively with AOPP and negatively with SOD. The paper’s main caveat is that it was an observational study comparing groups at a single time point, without establishing causality between oxidative stress markers and fibroid development or progression. The paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Uterine fibroid is the most common benign gynaecological tumour in women of reproductive age group, with significant impact on the quality of life, economy, morbidity and sometimes mortality of affected women. Black women of reproductive age group are more likely to develop uterine fibroids. Although available evidence suggests racial and genetic predisposition to the aetiology of uterine fibroid, oxidative stress has been implicated in the onset and progression of uterine fibroids. Epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gynaecological diseases including uterine fibroids. Aim and Objectives This study aims to assess the serum levels of antioxidants (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) and oxidants (protein carbonyl (PC), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP)) in women with uterine fibroids and to identify any association between the size of uterine fibroids and serum levels of the analysed antioxidants and oxidants. Methods Forty-four women with ultrasound diagnosis of uterine fibroids and 44 women without uterine fibroids were recruited from a University Teaching Hospital. Blood samples were obtained and analysed for serum levels of selected antioxidants (CAT, SOD, GPx) and oxidants (PC, AOPP). Pelvic ultrasonography was performed on all study participants. Results The median serum levels of antioxidants: CAT (2.20 vs 4.32 ng/ml; p < 0.001); SOD (285.54 vs 380.96 ng/ml; p < 0.001) and GPx (9.67 vs 11.26 µU/ml; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in women with uterine fibroids. The median serum levels of oxidants: PC (162.08 vs 142.36 ng/ml; p = 0.04); and AOPP (22.42 vs 13.94 ng/ml; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in women with uterine fibroids. There was a strong negative correlation between serum levels of AOPP and SOD (r = -0.95; p < 0.001) in women with uterine fibroids. The maximum diameter of fibroids showed a significant positive correlation with AOPP (r = 1.000; p < 0.001) and a negative correlation with SOD (r = -1.000; p < 0.001). Conclusion Women with uterine fibroids had lower levels of antioxidants and higher levels of oxidants. In women with uterine fibroids, AOPP negatively correlated with SOD. There was a positive correlation between fibroid size and AOPP and a negative correlation between fibroid size and SOD. The findings of this study suggests that AOPP and SOD may play an important role in uterine fibroids.

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