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Effects of two different low-dose oral contraceptives on plasma homocysteine levels
Ali R Odabaşi1, Mert Küçük, Hasan Yüksel
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. arodabasi@gmail.com
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two currently used low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) (20 μg ethinyl estradiol [EE]/150 μg desogestrel [DSG] vs. 20 μg EE/100 μg levonorgestrel [LNG]) on plasma homocysteine levels.
Methods:
A total of 90 participants were enrolled in the study; 30 of them had not been using COC for at least 12 months prior to their enrollment, while 60 were on regular treatment within 12-18 months. Therefore, the control group consisted of 30 participants. Group DSG/EE consisted of 30 women and group LNG/EE consisted of 30 women. Serum samples of homocysteine profile were obtained during the early follicular phase.
Results:
Significantly lower serum homocysteine concentrations (Group DSG/EE: 7.2 +/- 1.3; Group LNG/EE: 9.1 +/- 3.2;
Control Group:
8.2 +/- 2.2; p<0.05) were observed in DSG/EE group compared to LNG/EE and control groups.
Conclusion:
Although the decrease in homocysteine levels with 20 μg EE/150 μg DSG containing COC was statistically significant, the clinical relevance of our findings needs to be further investigated.
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