[The influence of oral contraceptives on lipoprotein status (author's transl)]

Sera from 500 female blood donors, aged 18-40 years, were examined by quantitative lipoprotein electrophoresis. 218 women had been taking oral contraceptives for more than 3 months; the remaining 282 not on contraceptives acted as controls. The two groups were similar as to age distribution, weight and smoking habits. There were five sub-groups according to the composition of the contraceptives. It was found that all contraceptives had a favourable influence on the atherogenic beta-lipoprotein fraction. The pure progestogen preparations were less advantageous because they in particular reduced the concentration of potentially anti-atherogenic alpha-lipoproteins.