Lipid And Lipoprotein Changes In Kenya Unban Women Using Two Oral Contraceptives

Abstract

One hundred and twenty five black Kenyan women attending the Family Welfare Clinic at Kenyatta national Hospital and seeking Oral Contraceptive advice were recruited to the study. They were randomly allocated two combined fixed dose Oral contraceptives; microgynon (150 ug levonorgestrel t 30 ug Ethinyl Oestradiol) and Eugynon (500 ug dl - norgestrel f 50 ug Ethinyl Oestradiol). The women were aged between 13 and 33 years (mean 25 t 7 years), a mean parity of 3 and a mean education of 8 years. They were all menstruating normally and in general good health. They had no history of liver disease, diabetes, renal failure, thyrotoxicosis, thromboembolic disease or any other contraindication to the use of sexual steroids. Fasting blood was taken on the day of recruitment and after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of Oral Contraceptive medication. Lipids and Lipoprotein-cholesterol were estimated each time. Height, weight, Systolic and diastolic pressure were also recorded for every visit. The dl-norgestrel + EE regimen caused a significant increase (P/0.01) in body weight from the 9th cycle which remained so to the 12th cycle of treatment. The preparation levonorgestrel ♦ EE caused a slight increase in body weight which was significant (P/0.05) from the 9th cycle. Both systolic and diastolic pressures were also significantly elevated (P/0.01) by both Oral Contraceptive preparations. Fasting lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol before therapy were estimated as -.Totalcholesterol 3,88 +_;0.73 mmol/1; triglycerides 0.68+0.03 mmOl/1; HDL- chol&sterol 1.15 +_0.22 mmol/1; LDL-cholesterol 2.41+0.75 mmol/1 and VLDL - cholesterol 0.33 + 0.13 mmol/1/ The two preparations elicited a significant increase (P/0.01) in both the plasma lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Lipoprotein cholesterol was also significantly elevated (P/0.01) except HDL - Cholesterol which was decreased significantly (P/0.01) by both preparations, However, dl - norgestrel + EE caused a slightly higher change than levonorgestrel + EE in both lipids and; lipoprotein cholesterol though the difference was not statistically significant.