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An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
06:18

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause

Published on: August 13, 2019

Update on the metabolic effects of steroidal contraceptives and their relationship to cardiovascular disease risk

I F Godsland1, D Crook

  • 1Wynn Institute for Metabolic Research, St. John's Wood, London, England.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Oral contraceptives can cause metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance. Modifying estrogen content may lead to "metabolically transparent" formulations, potentially offering cardiovascular protection.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Metabolic disturbances are key considerations in oral contraceptive development.
  • Metabolic syndrome, linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors, may involve insulin resistance.
  • Insulin resistance syndrome features include hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL, and hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the metabolic impact of oral contraceptives.
  • To explore the potential for developing metabolically neutral oral contraceptive formulations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on oral contraceptive formulations and metabolic effects.
  • Analysis of the relationship between oral contraceptive components (estrogen, progestin) and metabolic parameters.
  • Identification of key metabolic disturbances induced by oral contraceptives.

Main Results:

  • Combined oral contraceptives can induce features of the insulin resistance syndrome.
  • Lower estrogen doses and modified progestins improve HDL and blood pressure but not insulin resistance or hypertriglyceridemia.
  • Estrogen is the primary component responsible for insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia.

Conclusions:

  • Estrogen content is the main driver of adverse metabolic effects in oral contraceptives.
  • Modifying estrogen content could yield "metabolically transparent" formulations.
  • Such formulations may offer cardiovascular protection by mitigating metabolic disturbances.
Keywords:
BiologyCarbohydrate Metabolic EffectsCardiovascular EffectsContraceptionContraceptive MethodsDiseasesFamily PlanningGlucose Metabolism EffectsHypertensionLipid Metabolic EffectsLipidsLiterature ReviewMetabolic EffectsOral ContraceptivesOral Contraceptives, CombinedPhysiologyRisk FactorsSteroid Metabolic EffectsVascular Diseases

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