Plasma lipids and high density lipoproteins during oral contraception with different combinations of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.
Seventy-five menstruating women seeking contraceptive advice were randomly allocated to treatment with combined oral contraceptives containing either ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms + levonorgestrel 250 micrograms (50/250), ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 150 micrograms (30/150) or ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms + levonorgestrel 125 micrograms (50/125). The concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids were determined after one, three and six months and compared to the mean of two determinations of the same parameters before medication. Triglycerides increased by 18--42 per cent after 1--6 months of treatment with 50/125. The HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids were reduced by 10 per cent during 50/250 treatment. No other parameters showed any consistent alteration in any of the treatment groups. Raised triglyceride concentration and/or decreased HDL concentration increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. It is therefore suggested that in order not to alter the HDL concentration a combined oral contraceptive agent should not contain more gestagen-androgen 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.
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol