Effects of three different combinations of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel on plasma lipids and high density lipoproteins.
Seventy-five menstruating women seeking contraceptive advice were randomly allocated to treatment with combined oral contraceptives containing either ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 150 micrograms (30/150), ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms + levonorgestrel 125 micrograms (50/125) or ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms + levonorgestrel 250 micrograms (50/250). The concentrations of cholesterol, phospholipids, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, HDL-phospholipids and triglycerides were determined prior to treatment and after one, three and six months of medication. Triglycerides increased by 18--42 per cent after one to six months of treatment with 50/125. The HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids were reduced by 10 per cent during 50/250 medication. No other parameters showed any consistent alteration in any of the treatment groups. Raised triglyceride concentration and/or decreased HDL concentration may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. It is therefore suggested that in order not to alter the HDL concentration a combined oral contraceptive agent should probably not contain more 19-nortestosterone type of progestogen than corresponding to 125--150 micrograms of levonorgestrel. To avoid a rise of the triglyceride level the weight relation between levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol should be about 5:1.
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol