EFFECTS OF COMBINED AND LOW-DOSE GESTAGEN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON PLASMA LIPIDS; INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), total and free cholesterol, total phospholipids and the individual phospholipids lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, lecithin and cephalin were determined in four groups of women, each consisting of nine or ten subjects. The determinations were performed before treatment and about every third month during one year of medication. Two combined drugs, Anconcene® (Chlormadinone acetate = CMA, 3 mg + mestranol 0.1 mg) and Conluten® (Norethindrone = NET, 2 mg + mestranol 0.1 mg) and two low-dose gestagen drugs, CMA 0.5 mg and NET 0.4 mg were used. FFA decreased in the Anconcene group. TG increased among those taking Anconcene, Conluten and NET. Slight increases of cholesterol were noted in the two groups taking combined drugs. Total phospholipids were increased in the Anconcene group and the Conluten group. Among the individual phospholipids, changes appeared similar to those found during pregnancy. They were most pronounced in the Anconcene group. It seems that it is the oestrogenic component of the combined drugs that is responsible for many of the alterations. It is suggested that the testosterone derivative NET but not the progesterone derivative CMA may have anti-oestrogenic effect in this connection.