Does use of oral contraceptives enhance the toxicity of carbon disulfide through interactions with pyridoxine and tryptophan metabolism?
Calabrese, E.J.
Medical Hypotheses 6(1): 21-33
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0306-9877 PMID: 7382884 DOI: 10.1016/0306-9877(80)90028-6Document Number: 450374
This paper argues, hypothetically, that oral contraceptive (OC) users are at increased risk of experiencing adverse psychological disorders, including irritablitity and depression, when exposed to elevated levels of carbon disulfide. The theory is based on studies that indicated that both OCs and carbon disulfide are capable of inducing either a vitamin B6 deficiency or an enhancement of the requirement for the vitamin. B6 metabolism alterations are thought to be associated with psychological effects; therefore, joint exposure to OCs and carbon disulfide would probably result in an exaggerated disruption of that vitamin's metabolism leading to carbon disulfide-induced adverse psychological effects. These effects are thought to occur at exposure levls below those normally associated with adverse effects.