title: Evaluation of oxidative stress after treatment with low estrogen contraceptive either alone or associated with specific antioxidant therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of low estrogen contraceptives (OC) on oxidative stress (OS) and concomitantly also the changes produced by different treatments using physiological modulators (PMs) with antioxidant action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four female volunteers using a low estrogen OC regimen were analyzed for their OS status through the reactive oxygen metabolites-derived compounds (d-ROMs) test, during 5 different cycles (Cycle I to V). Three experiments were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first experiment (Cycle I), OS showed almost a constant 50% increase in all the determinations. In the second experiment (Cycles II and III), the participants were divided into two groups and treated double-blind with a placebo or with a PM (MF Templar®) that significantly reduced OS, on average by 69%, while the placebo had no effect. In the third experiment (Cycles IV and V), the placebo group was divided into three subgroups, A, B, C and treated, respectively, with MF Templar®, green tea containing the same amount of catechins present in MF Templar® or with MF Templar® devoid of catechins. Only the complete product, MF Templar®, was able to reduce OS levels, on average by 70%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that to control the OS generated by OC, specific types of PMs are needed. In particular MF Templar® was able to induce a significant reduction of OS levels.
authors.affiliation: Cor. Con. International Srl-Department of Oxidation Research-Parma, Strada Langhirano 264/1A, Parma (PR), Italy. finco.annarosa@libero.it
authors.forename: Annarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finco
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D000975:Antioxidants; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004967:Estrogens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013662:Tea; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D002392:Catechin