The cell carefully regulates the balance between the production of radical oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes levels. Antioxidant enzymes are critical for aerobic cells to maintain within balance free radical production. During the climacteric transition, the body and its metabolism suffer many changes and the mechanisms that regulate oxidative balance are not the exception. Estrogens, <span name="style_italic">per se</span>, are antioxidants, and this has promoted several studies to investigate the potential role of estrogens in disease prevention. Within the last few years, a great deal of studies have shown the relationship between oxidative stress and diseases such as therosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It appears that estrogens do modify the oxidative / anti-oxidative equilibrium <span name="style_italic">in vivo</span>, but more investigation is needed to further specify their role in disease prevention during the climacteric phase., but more investigation is needed to further specify their role in disease prevention during the climacteric phase.

oxidative stress; antioxidants; menopause; estrogens