Vitamin supplements to Indian women using low dosage oral contraceptives

Effect of continuous and intermittent vitamin supplements on vitamin status, serum proteins and lipids were examined in Indian women of low-income group, receiving a low-dose oral contraceptive over a period of 3-6 months. To find out non-specific time related changes, vitamin supplemented and unsupplemented control groups of non-OC users were also examined. OC treatment did not change serum chemistry significantly. The significant biochemical changes were: altered tryptophan metabolism and elevated plasma vitamin A levels. Former could be prevented by administering multivitamins containing 10 mg vitamin B6 daily or twice the dose daily for the 7 non-hormone days in the cycle. Vitamin supplements produced significant improvement in pre-existing deficiencies of riboflavin, pyridoxine and folic acid. Continuous supplementation regimen was slightly superior, but more expensive than the intermittent supplementation regimen. In view of the high prevalence of vitamin deficiency among the low-income group women of developing countries, the delivery system for oral contraceptive can be effectively used for giving vitamin supplements as well.