In the modern day, despite advances in medicine and the prolongation of life expectancy, the age of menopause and male late-onset hypogonadism remains the same. This narrative review describes the physiology of the human reproductive system in females and males based on clinical and experimental studies. It explores the impact of gonadal aging and reproductive hormone withdrawal on the development of insulin resistance and diabetes and summarizes the use of antioxidants for the prevention of diabetes during menopausal transition and male late-onset hypogonadism. Maintaining high antioxidant capacity in these periods prevents the metabolic consequences of oxidative stress and improves health span trajectories. In clinical practice, we conclude that antioxidants should be used with caution to avoid the ‘antioxidant paradox’.
Karaflou et al. (Sun,) studied this question.