Effects of oral contraceptives on lipoprotein triglyceride and cholesterol: relationships to estrogen and progestin potency.

Hormone formulation and estrogen/progestin potency were evaluated in relation to triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in total plasma and lipoprotein fractions and in relation to lipid composition among a random sample of female telephone company personnel. Triglyceride concentrations in whole plasma, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were elevated in response to increasing estrogen potency as were triglyceride concentrations in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL cholesterol rose with increasing estrogen potency in contraceptive users but was slightly lower in postmenopausal estrogen-treated women. Plasma HDL cholesterol varied according to estrogen and progestin levels. The LDL cholesterol/triglyceride ratio was reduced for all combination oral contraceptives examined. Sequential oral contraceptives of postmenopausal estrogens did not significantly alter the cholesterol/triglyceride ratio in any lipoprotein fraction. Potential arteriosclerotic risk from sex hormone use may vary among oral contraceptive formulations.