Altered liver function and the status of calcium in postmenopausal women in and around Mangalore.
At the time of menopause female sexual cycle ceases and female sex hormones diminish rapidly. It is characterized by various physiological, psychological and biochemical changes, and also metabolic bone disorders. Therefore in the present study we analyzed the level of AST, ALT, serum proteins, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and the level of calcium in pre and postmenopausal women. The study involves 80 subjects, of which 40 pre-menopausal and 40 postmenopausal women. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA. In premenopausal women the concentration of AST was elevated significantly as compared to postmenopausal women (p<0.001) but, the concentration of ALT was increased nonsignificantly. The concentration of total serum protein increases in post menopausal women non significantly as compared to pre menopausal women’s whereas, the albumin level was decreased significantly in post menopausal women (p<0.0001). The level of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin increased significantly in post menopausal women as compared to pre menopausal women’s (p<0.01).The serum calcium level was declined significantly in post menopausal women as compared to pre menopausal women’s (p<0.0001). Thus our study demonstrated that, as age advances liver gets irritated and the liver functions gets disturbed. The decreased concentration of calcium in postmenopausal women indicates that they are more prone to fractures and osteoporosis.