Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
Published on: April 15, 2013
Plasma and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in oral contraceptive users
Abstract:
The fatty acid composition of the plasma choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) and erythrocyte phospholipids were determined in women using oral contraceptive agents and age-matched female controls. Those using oestrogen and progestogen combined preparations had higher concentrations of palmitic acid (16:0) and linoleic acid (18:2 omega 6) and lower concentrations of stearic acid (18:0) and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP), in particular arachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 omega 3), in their plasma CPG than controls. These differences were reflected in the erythrocyte phospholipids. The progestogen-only group had similar concentrations to matched controls. It is suggested that the lower concentrations of LCP in combined pill users may affect membrane function and prostaglandin synthesis and may relate to their increased risk of thrombosis.
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Lipids
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...

