title: Amelioration of lipid abnormalities by vitamin therapy in women using oral contraceptives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have some adverse effects on the serum lipid profile. Because hyperlipidemia is one of the risk factors in cardiovascular diseases, lipid abnormalities should be evaluated in women consuming COCs. Vitamins E and C are known to have beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of vitamins E and C on serum lipids in women using COCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study compared changes in lipid parameters with and without vitamin therapy in women consuming COCs compared to those of a control group (40 non-contraceptive users or NCU) for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels along with HDL/LDL ratios were measured for all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COC users experienced significantly higher increases in the levels of triglycerides and LDL than non-users (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted in the total cholesterol and HDL levels. In the treated COC group receiving vitamins E and C, the HDL level and the HDL/LDL ratio increased and the LDL and triglycerides levels decreased significantly compared with those of the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C restores a normal lipid profile in COC users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torkzahrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afrooz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. ; Maternal fetal medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mostafavi-Pour
authors.affiliation: Department of English Language, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. ; Infertility Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zal
keywords: Contraceptive; Hyperlipidemias; Vitamins