Biomaterial Database

Effects of two oral contraceptives on plasma levels of nitric oxide, homocysteine, and lipid metabolism. 2002

Gabriele S Merki-Feld, and Bruno Imthurn, and Paul J Keller

Clinic of Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

This prospective study was performed to investigate the effect of 2 low-dose oral contraceptives containing a second- and a third-generation progestagen on factors, which may influence the individual cardiovascular risk by regulating endothelial function and development of atherosclerosis. Sixteen women were randomized to receive 3 cycles of treatment with 30 microg ethinylestradiol/150 microg levonorgestrel (EE/LNG) and 3 cycles of treatment with 30 microg ethinylestradiol/75 microg gestodene (EE/GSD). Before and after treatment the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), homocysteine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides were measured. No significant alterations of the NO, homocysteine, and triglyceride plasma levels were observed during use of both contraceptive pills. Compared to levels after EE/LNG treatment, HDL plasma levels were higher (P =.05) and the cholesterol/HDL ratio was lower after the EE/GSD pill (P =.05). Significant correlations were found between NO and homocysteine and NO and cholesterol. Our data indicate that the cardiovascular risk associated with these contraceptive pills may not be explained by a negative influence on NO or homocysteine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008074	Lipoproteins	Lipid-protein complexes involved in the transportation and metabolism of lipids in the body. They are spherical particles consisting of a hydrophobic core of TRIGLYCERIDES and CHOLESTEROL ESTERS surrounded by a layer of hydrophilic free CHOLESTEROL; PHOSPHOLIPIDS; and APOLIPOPROTEINS. Lipoproteins are classified by their varying buoyant density and sizes.	Circulating Lipoproteins,Lipoprotein,Lipoproteins, Circulating
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D009652	Norpregnenes	Pregnenes with one double bond or more than three double bonds which have undergone ring contractions or are lacking carbon-18 or carbon-19..
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D003276	Contraceptives, Oral	Compounds, usually hormonal, taken orally in order to block ovulation and prevent the occurrence of pregnancy. The hormones are generally estrogen or progesterone or both.	Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive,Oral Contraceptive,Oral Contraceptives,Oral Contraceptives, Low-Dose,Oral Contraceptives, Phasic,Contraceptive, Low-Dose Oral,Contraceptive, Oral,Contraceptives, Low-Dose Oral,Contraceptives, Phasic Oral,Low Dose Oral Contraceptive,Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives,Oral Contraceptive, Low-Dose,Oral Contraceptives, Low Dose,Phasic Oral Contraceptives
D003280	Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic	Oral contraceptives which owe their effectiveness to synthetic preparations.
D004338	Drug Combinations	Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture.	Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D004997	Ethinyl Estradiol	A semisynthetic alkylated ESTRADIOL with a 17-alpha-ethinyl substitution. It has high estrogenic potency when administered orally, and is often used as the estrogenic component in ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES.	19-Norpregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-yne-3,17-diol, (17alpha)-,Ethynyl Estradiol,Estinyl,Ethinyl Estradiol Hemihydrate,Ethinyl Estradiol, (8 alpha)-Isomer,Ethinyl Estradiol, (8 alpha,17 alpha)-Isomer,Ethinyl Estradiol, (8 alpha,9 beta,13 alpha,14 beta)-Isomer,Ethinyl Estradiol, (9 beta,17 alpha)-Isomer,Ethinyl-Oestradiol Effik,Ethinylestradiol Jenapharm,Ethinyloestradiol,Lynoral,Microfollin,Microfollin Forte,Progynon C,Estradiol, Ethinyl,Estradiol, Ethynyl,Ethinyl Oestradiol Effik,Hemihydrate, Ethinyl Estradiol,Jenapharm, Ethinylestradiol
D005260	Female		Females
D006710	Homocysteine	A thiol-containing amino acid formed by a demethylation of METHIONINE.	2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L-Isomer,2 amino 4 mercaptobutyric acid,Homocysteine, L Isomer,L-Isomer Homocysteine