Abstract:
Background. There is to our knowledge metabolic changes induced by combined oral contraceptives (COC) use in regularly active females.
Objectives. Analyzing blood cortisol and other biochemical variables in active (COC) users and non-users.
Methods. A total of 123 active female students (25 COC users and 98 non-users) volunteered to participate in the study. The COC users declared 2-3 years of using different types of combined the fourth generation COC pills. In all participants body composition, physical activity and dietary habits were determined. Circulating cortisol and insulin were determined using standard radioimmunoassay techniques. Plasma glucose and lipoproteins were determined using colorimetrical methods. To evaluate the health risk ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (Castelli index I) and LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (Castelli index II) were calculated.
Results. There were no between-group differences in body composition and dietary habits. The COC users had markedly elevated plasma cortisol (p<0.001), triacylglycerols (TG) (p<0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (p<0.002) and HDL-C (p<0.040) with no effect on glucose, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and TC-to HDL-C ratio. In contrast, the LDL-C to HDL-C ratio in COC users was lower vs. non-users (p<0.002). COC users were characterized by a higher frequency of elevated TC (p<0.001) and HDL-C (p<0.04). However, in all participants Castelli index I and II were within the accepted limits suggesting a low risk of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions. In COC users regular physical activity does not prevent changes in circulating biochemical variables, however, these changes did not affect cardiovascular risk which is low and similar to that noted in active non-users.
Machine summary:
Metabolic Profile in Active Female Students Users and Non-Users Combined Oral Contraceptives 1Marzena Malara*/, 1Anna Kęska, 1Joanna Tkaczyk, 1Grażyna Lutosławska 1Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland.
In COC users regular physical activity does not prevent changes in circulating biochemical variables, however, these changes did not affect cardiovascular risk which is low and similar to that noted in active non-users.
KEY WORDS: Combined Contraceptives, Physical Activity, Lipoproteins INTRODUCTION Assuming a wide spectrum of cortisol action in many human tissues its elevated level brings about marked adverse changes in pancreas function, insulin sensitivity, but also in the liver triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion into circulation (1).
However, it should be stressed that data concerning OC use and metabolic status in regularly active females are rare and focused mainly on cortisol and testosterone response to training and it consequences for sport competition (6, 7) There is only one study which showed a positive effect of regular moderate physical activity (150 min/week) on insulin sensitivity in progestin-only OC (8).
However, it should be stressed that regular physical activity per se has the potential to increase circulating cortisol (9), Thus, to eliminate the possible effect of physical activity on circulating cortisol our study was undertaken and focused on the comparison of body composition, dietary habits, biochemical variables (cortisol, insulin, glucose, lipoproteins and calculated indices of cardiovascular risk) in active females - OC users with elevated blood cortisol and active non-users with normal cortisol levels.