EVALUATING PLASMA SELENIUM CONCENTRATION DURING LUTEAL AND MENSTRUAL PHASE OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN A POPULATION OF YOUNG FEMALE ADULTS.

ABSTRACT

Menstruation is the cyclic, orderly sloughing of the uterine lining, in response to the interactions of hormones produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries. The menstrual cycle consist of four different phases which is accompanied by different processes and changes. Therefore   This study was carried out with the aim of  evaluating possible changes of  plasma selenium concentration during the menstrual phase and luteal phase of menstrual cycle in a population of young female adults. This study was carried out across different geopolitical regions in Benin City. A population of 50 young healthy female subjects within the age range of 18 to 30 was engaged in this study and Subjects were asked to complete a medical and gynecological questionnaire. The clinical history of the subject was noted and different phase of the menstrual cycle was determined by the medical history. The plasma selenium concentration was estimated using ionic spectrophotometry (ICP- MS) method. Results obtained from this study showed a significant difference between the plasma selenium concentration level during the luteal phase and the menstrual phase (P<0.05). This significant increase in plasma selenium concentration level during the Luteal phase of the Menstrual cycle could be due to the linear relationship that exists between estrogen and selenium.