The effect of oral contraceptives on the apparent vitamin B6 status in some Sudanese women.
1. In vitro activation of erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) activity by pyridoxal phosphate was used to assess vitamin B6 nutritional status in forty Sudanese women taking combined, low-dose oral contraceptives (oestrogen-progestogen; OC) and in thirty healthy, non-pregnant women not taking OC. 2. Fourteen (35%) out of forty OC users showed apparent vitamin B6 deficiency. 3. Side-effects associated with OC were more common among the apparently vitamin-B6-deficient OC users than among OC users and non-OC users not deficient in vitamin B6.
Salih
E Y
EY
Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Zein
A A
AA
Bayoumi
R A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013397:Sudan
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D011736:Pyridoxine