Pro-RH
people profess to be so concerned about
women's health. Here is one more aspect
that refutes their stand.
Study:
Contraceptive pills deplete women's bodies
of essential vitamins, antioxidants
Thaddeus Baklinski | Fri Mar 04 16:10
EST | Contraception
BRONX,
NY, Fri Mar 4, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com)
- A study carried out by the Obstetrics
and Gynecology Dept. of the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine at Bronx-Lebanon
Hospital has found that women
who use hormonal contraceptives have
significantly lower levels of essential
vitamins and antioxidants compared to
women who do not use the drugs.
We
compared the influences of three contraceptive
methods (oral contraceptives, vaginal
ring, and transdermal patch) on serum
levels of coenzyme Q(10), alpha-tocopherol,
gammatocopherol and total antioxidant
capacity in premenopausal women, said
head researcher Prabhudas R. Palan.
CoQ10
is regarded as one of the most important
antioxidants, while Tocopherol is generally
considered the most potent antioxidant
in the active tocopherols, both of which
are lipid-soluble free radical scavengers
located in cell membranes capable of
neutralizing oxygen free radicals, the
report states.
The
study involved seventy non-smoking,
healthy premenopausal women from the
same inner-city socioeconomic background.
Of these 70 subjects, forty women who
did not use hormonal contraceptives
constituted the control group.
Among
the 30 contraceptive users, 15 took
the oral pill (Triphasic OC) for a minimum
period of 6 months; 5 inserted the vaginal
ring (NuvaRing) from day 1–21
for a total period of 6 cycles; and
10 used the transdermal patch (Ortho
Evra) for 3 consecutive weeks each month
for a minimum of 6 cycles.
The
researchers noted that relatively little
research has been focused on the effect
of hormonal contraceptives on lipid-soluble
antioxidant levels, but observed that
previous research has shown that an
imbalance between the production of
oxygen free radicals and serum levels
of antioxidants can lead to cell oxidative
stress and damage and consequent apoptosis
(cell death).
Oxidative
stress has been suggested to be involved
in the etiology (causation) of many
chronic disease processes including
cardiovascular disease, cancer, cataracts,
and aging, the report stated.
The
researchers also pointed out that natural
ovarian hormones, primarily estrogens,
possess antioxidant properties and have
been postulated to protect against cardiovascular
disease (CVD).
The
researchers concluded that hormonal
contraceptive users have significantly
depleted levels of essential vitamins
and antioxidants.
This
is the first report examining the effects
of exogenous (artificial) ovarian hormones
on serum levels of CoQ10 and vitamin
E in healthy premenopausal women, the
researchers reported.
Results
demonstrate significantly lower serum
levels of CoQ10, tocopherol, and TAOC
(total antioxidant capacity) in hormonal
contraception users compared to nonusers.
Moreover,
contraceptive patch users had the lowest
levels of CoQ10 and TAOC compared with
normal subjects.
Data
suggest that alterations in CoQ10 and
tocopherol by hormonal contraception
and the potential effect(s) of exogenous
ovarian hormones on oxidative stress
should be taken into consideration in
future antioxidant research, the report
concluded.
The
full text of the study, titled Effects
of Oral, Vaginal, and Transdermal Hormonal
Contraception on Serum Levels of Coenzyme
Q10, Vitamin E, and Total Antioxidant
Activity is available
here.
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain." (Phil 1:21)