Key result
A 6-month exposure to a combined oral contraceptive (20 mcg ethinylestradiol/3 mg drospirenone) did not change blood pressure but significantly increased aldosterone, renin, and HOMA-IR.
Why the study?
Does a combined oral contraceptive containing 20 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone affect blood pressure, RAAS, insulin resistance, and androgenic profile in healthy young women?
Cohort (n=81)
Does a combined oral contraceptive containing 20 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone affect blood pressure, RAAS, insulin resistance, and androgenic profile in healthy young women?
A low-dose ethinylestradiol and drospirenone oral contraceptive alters metabolic and hormonal profiles but does not negatively influence cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure in healthy young women.
Short-term use of this COC may not raise BP; leaves open whether RAAS/HOMA-IR rises predict cardiometabolic risk.
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease depending on the ethynyl estradiol (EE) dose and the androgenicity of the progestogens. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a COC containing 20 mcg EE + 3 mg drospirenone on blood pressure (BP), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, insulin resistance, and androgenic profile of healthy young women. Eighty-one healthy young women aged 30 ± 1 years (case group, n = 49, received COC; control group, n = 32, used no COC) were assessed twice, before and after the 6-month study. Statistical analysis employed the paired t-tests and expressed the data in mean and standard deviation. Results were as follows: no changes in BP or in BMI; a significant increase in aldosterone, plasma renin activity, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, but a non-significant increase in HDL and no significant changes in LDL levels (these parameters remained within normal ranges); a significant increase in the HOMA-IR index and a significant decrease in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (SDHEA), androstenedione, total testosterone, and free testosterone levels; no significant variations in the control group parameters. An oral contraceptive combination of a low EE dose and an anti-androgenic progestogen does not negatively influence the risk factors for a cardiovascular disease.
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Giribela et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Healthy young women (n=81). Combined oral contraceptive (ethinylestradiol and drospirenone) vs. No combined oral contraceptive was evaluated on Blood pressure, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, insulin resistance, and androgenic profile. A 6-month exposure to a combined oral contraceptive (20 mcg ethinylestradiol/3 mg drospirenone) did not change blood pressure but significantly increased aldosterone, renin, and HOMA-IR.
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