Serum vitamin a and retinol-binding protein in malnourished women treated with oral contraceptives: effects of estrogen dose and duration of treatment
Mohan Ram, M.; Bamji, M.S.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 135(4): 470-472
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 573554 DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(79)90433-2Document Number: 442814
The early (2-5 months) and late (12 months) effects of treatment with 2 oral contraceptives (OCs) containing either 50 or 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and .15 mg of d-norgestrel on serum vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in women belonging to the low-income groups in Hyderabad, India, are reported. Serum vitamin A and RBP levels were examined in 72 women of low income, aged 18-35 years, who had used the 30 (pill A) or 50 (pill B) mcg formulations. Comparisons were made between control and treated groups, between the 2 treatment groups, and in the same treatment group between women who had used OCs for 2-5 cycles and those for 12 cycles. Average age, parity, and body weight of OC users tended to be higher than that of the control group, the difference being statistically significant only in some comparisons. Although women using pill B tended to have higher body weight at both early and late time points than pill A users, the difference was not statistically significant. Both of the pills produced significant increases in serum vitamin A and RBP after 2 or 5 months of use, the rise being slightly, though not significantly, greater with pill B; however, after 12 months of treatment, RBP levels were normal or only marginally elevated, whereas vitamin A levels continued to be high. In the case of pill B, though, vitamin A levels also tended to decline. These cross sectional data suggest that the rise in serum vitamin A and RBP observed in women treated with OCs may not be sustained after prolonged use but tend to revert to normal levels, the reversal trend being more marked for RBP than vitamin A.