Background: Oral contraceptives (OCs) with estrogens and progestins may affect oxidative stress (OS) status.
Study Design: A group of 32 women using oral contraceptives (OCU) containing 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone have been compared to a matched control group of 30 noncontraception users (NCU). Blood levels of antioxidants, trace elements and markers of lipid peroxidation were assessed by biochemical methods. A microarray analysis of whole blood mRNA levels of 200 genes involved in OS-dependant pathway was also performed.
Results: Levels of zinc, vitamin E and antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) were not significantly different between the two groups. On the other hand, significant increases in the mean levels of lipid peroxides (+176%, p<.001), oxidized LDLs (+145%, p<.002), copper (+103%, p<.001), Cu/Zn ratio (+100%, p<.001) and a significant decrease in the mean level of beta-carotene (-41%, p<.01) were observed in the OCU compared to NCU. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the lipid peroxide levels and the copper-to-zinc ratio. From the 200 genes tested by microarray, one coding for HSP70 was significantly up-regulated (log(2) fold change=+ 0.45, p<.02) and one coding for inducible nitric oxide synthase significantly down-regulated (log(2) fold change=-0.24, p<.05) in the OCU compared to the NCU.
Conclusions: The recently introduced combination of ethinylestradiol and drospirenone induced the heightening of lipid peroxidation correlated with high levels of copper, a situation that could be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2009.02.015 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Increased ferritin with contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol drospirenone in polycystic ovary syndrome: a paradox of iron storage and iron deficiency.
Endocrine
December 2024
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objectives: The relationship between elevated ferritin levels and metabolic abnormalities in PCOS patients, and whether ferritin is a cause or a consequence, is still debated. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of the fourth generation combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone (EE 30 mcg/DRSP 3 mg), known for its favorable metabolic profile and lower side effect risk, on iron metabolism in PCOS patients, while also exploring the potential relationship between metabolic parameters and iron status.
Methods: The retrospective analysis was conducted on 81 women aged 18-45, diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria and treated with EE/DRSP for six months.
Comparison of Combined Oral Contraceptives and a Transdermal Estrogen Patch With Oral Progesterone: Treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Adolescents.
Cureus
October 2024
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, TUR.
Objective Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a frequent complaint in adolescents. Ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O) is the most common etiology of AUB. We aimed to compare possible treatment modalities for idiopathic AUB-O, the most common reason for AUB-O in adolescents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of breakthrough bleeding model of combined-oral contraceptives utilizing model-based meta-analysis.
CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol
November 2024
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology, University of Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Breakthrough bleeding (BTB) is a common side effect of hormonal contraceptives, particularly combined oral contraceptives (COCs), and can affect user adherence.
- A model-based meta-analysis was conducted using data from 25 studies to investigate the dose-response relationship of different progestin/ethinyl estradiol (EE) combinations and their effects on BTB.
- Results indicate that BTB increases when starting COCs but generally returns to baseline within 3 months, especially at higher EE doses; understanding these relationships can aid in optimizing COC treatment regimens.
Comparative study on the effects of combined oral contraceptives and dienogest in women with endometriosis‑associated chronic pelvic pain.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol
January 2025
Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Gynaecological Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare the pain relief effects of five different combined oral contraceptives (COCs) in women suffering from endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia.
- Conducted between October 2018 and March 2023, the research involved tracking pain levels using a visual analogue scale over 6 months across multiple treatment groups.
- Results indicated that COCs with estradiol (E2) or estetrol (E4) led to significantly better pain relief compared to those with ethinylestradiol (EE), and E2 or E4-containing COCs may be preferable alternatives to dienogest (DNG) for women preferring birth control.
Lower reporting of venous thromboembolisms events with natural estrogen-based combined oral contraceptives compared to ethinylestradiol-containing pills: A disproportionality analysis of the Eudravigilance database.
Contraception
October 2024
Qualiblood sa, QUALIresearch, Namur, Belgium; University of Namur, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Unit, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Namur, Belgium; Department of Biological Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Clermont-Ferrand, Hôpital Estaing, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address:
Objectives: Pharmacovigilance data analysis can accelerate the identification of drug-related safety signals or reassure on the safety profile. This study evaluates the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk of newer combined oral contraceptive (COC) formulations with natural estrogens, such as estradiol (E2) and estetrol (E4), using data from the EudraVigilance database.
Study Design: We conducted a disproportionality reporting rate analysis of VTE events associated with various COC formulations by extracting individual case reports from EudraVigilance database up to July 28, 2024.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!