Effects of oral contraceptives on lipoprotein triglyceride and cholesterol: relationships to estrogen and progestin potency.
Hormone formulation and estrogen/progestin potency were evaluated in relation to triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in total plasma and lipoprotein fractions and in relation to lipid composition among a random sample of female telephone company personnel. Triglyceride concentrations in whole plasma, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were elevated in response to increasing estrogen potency as were triglyceride concentrations in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL cholesterol rose with increasing estrogen potency in contraceptive users but was slightly lower in postmenopausal estrogen-treated women. Plasma HDL cholesterol varied according to estrogen and progestin levels. The LDL cholesterol/triglyceride ratio was reduced for all combination oral contraceptives examined. Sequential oral contraceptives of postmenopausal estrogens did not significantly alter the cholesterol/triglyceride ratio in any lipoprotein fraction. Potential arteriosclerotic risk from sex hormone use may vary among oral contraceptive formulations.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004967:Estrogens; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011372:Progestins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol