Changes In Insulin Resistance Risk Markers Among Oral Contraceptive Users In Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of venous thromboembolism, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke have been reported as possible metabolic side effects of monophasic oral contraceptive pills (OCP). These OCP associated disease conditions may be secondary to the abnormal increases in blood lipids and glucose. Recently, increase in plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) and glucose levels have been suggested to be the two most important biochemical features of insulin resistance. This study investigates the effect of monophasic combined OCP on plasma lipids and glucose levels. One hundred and twenty-nine (129) non-smoking women in apparent good health with no personal or familial history of CHD, stroke or cancer were choosen. The consenting women were randomly selected from family planning clinics. They were between 25-40 years and 65-80 kg. The subjects have been using the monophasic brand of COCP for 6-18 months and were still taking the pills at the time the investigation was conducted. The COCP users were separated on the basis of COCP continuous intake, into two groups; 6-12 months and then 13-18 months. Age-and weight-matched control group consisting of 56 apparently healthy women taking a non-hormonal form of contraceptive were included. Fasting blood data reveal that after about 18 months of continuous intake of monophasic COCP, significant increase in plasma TAG (p<0.05), glucose, body weight, VLDL-cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and reduction in HDL-cholesterol levels (P>0.05) were observed when compared with the control values. This trend of change induced by monophasic COCP among some Nigerian users suggest higher insulin resistance risk. However, observations at longer and abstinence periods should be made in order to generate sufficient data needed to establish convincing evidence among Nigerian users.

Keywords: Insulin resistance, Oral contraceptives, Triacylglycerol, Lipids, Glucose.

Egyptian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Vol. 26 (1) 2008 pp. 23-30