Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2014 Mar;41(1):15-20. 10.5653/cerm.2014.41.1.15.

Amelioration of lipid abnormalities by vitamin therapy in women using oral contraceptives

• Torkzahrani S
• Heidari A
• Mostafavi-pour Z
• Ahmadi M
• Zal F

• KMID: 2167485
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2014.41.1.15

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.
CONCLUSION
The results of our study indicate that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C restores a normal lipid profile in COC users.

Keyword

Contraceptive; Vitamins; Hyperlipidemias

MeSH Terms

Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Contraceptives, Oral*
Contraceptives, Oral, Combined
Female
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Lipoproteins
Risk Factors
Triglycerides
Vitamins*
Cholesterol
Contraceptives, Oral
Contraceptives, Oral, Combined
Lipoproteins
Triglycerides
Vitamins