[Effects of anovulatory steroids on serum levels of zinc and copper].

Mean serum zinc (1.14 micrograms/ml) and copper (2.35 micrograms/ml) in 24 women taking oral contraceptive agents were compared against mean serum zinc (1.25 micrograms/ml) and copper (1.98 micrograms/ml) of 20 women of the same age range who served as controls. Serum zinc was significantly lower while serum copper was significantly higher for women taking the oral contraceptive agents. There was no significant correlation between the serum zinc and copper levels either in the control group (r = 0.04) or in the group taking the contraceptives (r = 0.36).