Evolution of plasma levels of apolipoprotein B, cholesterol and triglycerides in women during long-term oral contraception

Characteristics of persons with marked hypocholesterolemia. A population-based study

Because of recent heightened epidemiologic interest in persons with very low cholesterol levels, we compared men and women at the lowest and middle deciles of plasma cholesterol in a large population study for multiple sociologic, biologic, and medical attributes. Two sex-specific age groups were studied, 30-54 years and 55-79 years. In general, comparisons between deciles for each of these four age-sex groups revealed only minor differences for demographic variables; systolic or diastolic blood pressure; fasting plasma glucose; weight; height; obesity; cigarette smoking; dietary eggs or milk; medications for hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, or hyperlipidemia; family history of myocardial infarction, diabetes, or stroke; and personal history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, hypertension, or stroke. Thus, the lowest and the middle deciles of plasma cholesterol in this population shared similar sociologic, biologic, and medical profiles. One unexpected finding was somewhat more diabetics in the lowest decile , and greater obesity and triglyceride levels in the lowest decile diabetics compared to either lowest decile non-diabetics or middle decile diabetics, perhaps suggesting a metabolically distinct subset.

Plasma lipoproteins and fatty acid composition after "minipill"

A study of the effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive, Adepal (ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, 30 and 150 micrograms on the 5th to 12th, 40 and 200 micrograms on the 13th to 28th, respectively) on the blood lipids, lipoproteins and fatty acid composition has been conducted on 13 young women before and after six months of treatment. All together, total cholesterol concentration did not vary; however, the high cholesterol values decreased whereas the low cholesterol values increased with the pill. Triglyceride levels increased significantly (p less than 0.001). High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol decreased clearly (p less than 0.001) regardless of the cholesterol value at the beginning; low and very low density lipoprotein (LDL + VLDL)-cholesterol increased slightly, as well as the apoprotein B (Apo B) concentration (p less than 0.05). The lipoprotein electrophoresis showed intermediate bands (IDL) in 5/12 of the women after treatment. The three major classes of lipoprotein showed some variations in the fatty acid composition after the oral contraceptive; in any lipid class from any lipoprotein, the linoleic (18: 1 omega 6), arachidonic (20: 4 omega 6) and eicosapentaenoic (20: 5 omega 3) acids decreased whereas the palmitic (16: 0) and oleic (18: 1 omega 9) acids increased. Our results suggest that a low-dose contraceptive like Adepal produces, nevertheless, some significative modifications of plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

Apolipoprotein A-I and B levels in adolescents; a trial to define subjects at risk for coronary heart disease

The normal levels of apolipoprotein A-I and B (apo A-I, apo B) were determined in 220 male and 340 female 16-19-year-old adolescents. In addition to these apolipoproteins, total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (total-C HDL-C) were analysed in an attempt to define subjects at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The normal levels were for boys: apo A-I 0.96 +/- 0.13 g/l, apo B 0.64 +/- 0.14 g/l; for girls: apo A-I 1.04 +/- 0.18 g/l, apo B 0.65 +/- 0.14 g/l; for girls taking combined oral contraceptives: apo A-I 1.14 +/- 0.22 g/l, apo B 0.72 +/- 0.16 g/l. Subjects with the following high-risk profiles were selected for further follow-up: 1. Total-C and apo B greater than or equal to 95th percentile; 2. Total-C or apo B greater than or equal to 95th and HDL-C or apo A-I less than or equal to 5th percentile. Seven adolescents had the combination of high total-C and apo B. None had any of the other combinations. One girl had lipid, apolipoprotein levels and a family history indicating familial hypercholesterolemia (f.h.). Another two adolescents were suspected of having f.h. while one girl might have abnormal levels secondary to oral combined contraceptives. The study suggests that the analyses of apolipoproteins, especially apo B, are of value to trace adolescents at risk for future CHD.