Low-dose oral contraceptives lower plasma levels of apolipoprotein E.
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.
Steinmetz
A
A
Zentrum Innere Medizin, Endokrinologie and Stoffwechsel, Philipps Universität, Marburg, F.R.G.
Bauer
K
K
Jürgensen
R
R
Kaffarnik
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D009652:Norpregnenes; D014280:Triglycerides; C033273:Gestodene; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017135:Desogestrel; D002784:Cholesterol