Effects of Vitamin B6 supplementation on modulating the adverse effects of combined oral contraceptives in mice

Abstract

Combined oral contraceptives (COC) consisting of estradiol and progestin are used by women worldwide for family planning. However, COC usage has been linked adverse effects like anaemia and impaired energy metabolism. This study explored the benefits of vitamin B6 supplementation on glucose tolerance, haemoglobin, and body weight in mice. Adult female mice in their reproductive age were randomly divided into three groups (G1 - G3). G1 received a basic diet alone, G2 received the basic diet with 0.062 mg of COC, while G3 received the basic diet with 0.062 mg of COC and 0.028 g of vitamin B6 daily for 56 consecutive days. Glucose tolerance tests and haemoglobin levels were measured weekly whereas body weight was recorded before, and at the end of the study. The results show that COC reduced glucose tolerance but was moderated by Vitamin B6 supplementation at day 7, 28 and 42. The effect of COC and vitamin B6 was not apparent at day 14 and 56 respectively. Furthermore, neither COC nor vitamin B6 had a significant effect on haemoglobin levels although the vitamin reversed weight loss observed in COC treated mice. The study show vitamin B6 had an improvement trend in modulating adverse effects of COC on glucose tolerance and weight loss but COC and vitamin B6 supplementation did not have any significant effect on haemoglobin levels.