Steinmetz A, Bauer K, Jürgensen R, Kaffarnik H
Zentrum Innere Medizin, Endokrinologie and Stoffwechsel, Philipps Universität, Marburg, F.R.G.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1990 Nov;37(2):155-62. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(90)90108-d.
Three different oral contraceptive preparations were studied before and after a 3 month treatment period with respect to their effects on plasma lipoprotein parameters. A total of 58 healthy women requesting oral contraception were randomly assigned to three groups. Each woman received either monophasic preparations containing ethinylestradiol and desogestrel (M-DG); ethinylestradiol and gestodene (M-GD); or a triphasic preparation of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel (T-LN). As has been reported in other studies, the concentrations of total plasma cholesterol and apolipoproteins B and A-IV did not change significantly in any group. HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-I and A-II increased or tended to increase. Despite the effects of the three hormone preparations on these lipoprotein parameters, however, each led to a highly significant decrease in apolipoprotein E plasma levels. Considering the recently reported observations that oral contraceptives increase the hepatic uptake of cholesterol-rich remnants, this decrease in apo-E plasma levels may in women that take oral contraceptives be directly correlated with increased hepatic lipoprotein metabolism.
