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American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 26, 191-196, Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Influence of oral contraceptives on ascorbic acid concentrations in healthy, sexually mature women

Vera Joyce McLeroy M.Ed., M.S., Ph.D.1 and Harold Eugene Schendel Ph.D.1

1 From the Department of Foods and Nutrition, School of Home Economics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

The concentration of ascorbic acid was measured in the leukocytes of 126 sexually mature and healthy female subjects. Sixty-three of these served as control subjects, whereas the other 63 had received a variety of oral contraceptives for at least 1 year (mean 34.6 months). The two groups were similar in age, weight, parity, and educational level. The mean dietary intake of vitamin C was similar and above that recommended for their age group.

The mean concentration of ascorbic acid in the leukocytes of women who had received oral contraceptive drugs (19.0 mg/100 g leukocytes) was significantly less (P < 0.01) than that of the control group (25.7 mg/100 g leukocytes). The mean concentration remained at 19 mg regardless of whether or not the experimental subjects were taking ascorbic acid supplements. The mean concentration of ascorbic acid in the leukocytes of the eight control subjects taking vitamin C supplements (35.2 mg/100 g leukocytes) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the 54 control subjects who had not taken vitamin C supplements (24.1 mg/100 g leukocytes).

Furthermore, the duration of contraceptive treatment after 1 year and the type of preparation had no significant effect on the mean ascorbic acid concentrations of the experimental group. The phase of the menstrual cycle, likewise, had no significant effect on the values of either the experimental or control groups. However, compared with the control subjects, the concentration of ascorbic acid was significantly reduced during both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy, sexually mature women using oral contraceptive agents longer than 1 year, regardless of the type.






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Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Nutrition