Altered plasma-lipids associated with oral contraceptive or oestrogen consumption. The Lipid Research Clinic Program

Mean plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured in White female users and non-users of oral contraceptives and oestrogens in 10 diverse, demographically defined North American populations. About 50% of the younger women (20-24 years old) were taking oral contraceptives. In these women mean triglyceride concentrations were up to 48% higher and mean cholesterol concentrations were about 5% higher than in non-users. The 95% percentile of the total lipid distribution among non-users was used to define hyperlipidaemia. In young women on oral contraceptives hypercholesterolaemia was up to three times more common and hypertriglyceridaemia was up to five times more common than in non-users. 37% of older women (50-54 years) (presumably intramenopausal and postmenopausal) were hormone users, and in this group there were small, inconsistent alterations in plasma-triglyceride and a modest but consistent reduction in mean cholesterol concentration.