Abstract
The effects of two new low-dose oral contraceptives (triphasic ethinyl estradiollgestoden and monophasic ethinyl estradiolldesogestrel) on glucose tolerance, plasma insulin response to glucose, fasting plasma cortisol, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (C), HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBGI were investigated in two groups of healthy women (n = 10). Investigations were performed prior to hormone ingestion and after treatment for 2 and 6 months. In both groups, fasting plasma levels of glucose and insulin as well as the areas below the glucose concentration curves were unchanged during treatment, whereas the insulin response to oral glucose was equally increased (p >0.05). Intake of both compounds was followed by similar increases in the levels of HDL-C (p>0.05) and in the HDL-C/total-C (p > 0.05). A transient decrease in the levels of LDL-C was observed in both groups after two months. During intake of the gestoden-containing compound increases in VLDL-C and TG levels were registered after six months (p>0.05). Plasma levels of SHBG increased similarly in both groups (p>0.0l). The study indicates, that intake of both hormonal compounds is free from adverse effects on glucose tolerance and lipoprotein metabolism known to be of clinical significance. No differences in the metabolic effects were found between the two compounds.