title: The effects of two monophasic oral contraceptives containing 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and either 2 mg of chlormadinone acetate or 0.15 mg of desogestrel on lipid, hormone and metabolic parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to compare the effects of two monophasic oral contraceptives (OCs) containing ethinyl estradiol (EE) 30 mcg+either chlormadinone acetate (CMA) 2 mg (Belara) or 0.15 mg desogestrel (Marvelon) on lipid, hormone and other relevant metabolic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Markers of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and reproductive hormone levels, were measured in 45 subjects randomly assigned to 6 months of treatment with one of the two OCs. The cortisol response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both treatment groups, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (Apo) AI and Apo AII levels increased; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio decreased; and total cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) were unchanged during treatment. Effects on HDL-C, Apo AI, LDL-C and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were more evident in the EE 30 mcg+CMA 2 mg group. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and androgen levels decreased and sex hormone-binding globulin levels increased in both groups. Both OCs increased basal cortisol levels and cortisol response to ACTH. Oral contraceptive did not have a clinically significant impact on carbohydrate metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both low-dose monophasic OCs had comparable effects on lipid, hormone and metabolic parameters during six cycles of treatment in healthy female subjects. There was some evidence of a beneficial effect on atherogenic cardiovascular risk markers, which was slightly more pronounced with EE 30 mcg+CMA 2 mg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Clinic of Wetzlar-Braunfels, 35578 Wetzlar, Germany. ulrich.winkler@klinikum-wetzlar-braunfe.de
authors.forename: Ulrich H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sudik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002715:Chlormadinone Acetate; C059236:chlormadinol acetate; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel; D002784:Cholesterol; D006854:Hydrocortisone