Assessment of Oxidative Stress Markers in medical students in response to examination stress

Background: Exam stress is a factor that affects many organ systems of the body. There is a relation between stress and biochemical and physiological markers. Aim: To assess the level of oxidative stress markers in medical students during and after examinations. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at physiology department of university of Lahore from January 2013 - February 2013. Sixty healthy medical students planning to take their professional exam were recruited. Students with health behaviors or health problems that may alter immune oxidative stress measures were excluded from the study. Study participants arrived at the lab in morning hours (7-11 am) in the week preceding annual exam. The second visit was scheduled a month or more (4-7 weeks) after the exam. Results: out of the sixty subjects, 23 were male and 37 were female. Age ranged from 19 to 21 years. Significant difference was observed in the value of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) during stressed and relaxed phase. While the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) were raised during the stress state, but the difference between the stressed and relaxed state was non-significant Conclusion: Examination stress affects the levels of antioxidants. Examination stress has a transient effect on deranging the biochemical markers.