title: Long-term effects of combined oral contraceptives on markers of endothelial function and lipids in healthy premenopausal women.
abstract: The aim of this prospective cross-over study was to investigate the effect of two low-dosed oral contraceptives on markers of endothelial function and plasma lipids. Twelve healthy, nonsmoking women (mean age: 21.7 years) were recruited from the family planning clinic of the university hospital Zurich. For 6 months the participants received a treatment with two contraceptive pills containing 30 microg ethinyl estradiol/150 microg levonorgestrel (three cycles) and 30 microg ethinyl estradiol/75 microg gestodene (three cycles). Plasma levels of endothelin-1, nitric oxide, cholesterol, and HDL were measurement before and during treatment with both oral contraceptive treatments. No significant changes in the plasma levels of nitric oxide and endothelin-1, both important regulators of the vascular tone, were observed during oral contraceptive use. A significant negative correlation was found between nitric oxide and endothelin-1 and nitric oxide and cholesterol. There was a positive correlation between endothelin-1 and cholesterol. In conclusion, the investigated contraceptive pills did not cause major changes in circulating nitric oxide and endothelin-1 plasma levels.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. gabriele.merki@fhk.usz.ch
authors.forename: Gabriele S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Merki-Feld
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosselli
authors.forename: Raghvendra K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Adrian W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D019332:Endothelin-1; D009652:Norpregnenes; C033273:Gestodene; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel