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Abstract
A relative pyridoxine deficiency was found in 80 % of 100 women using oral contraceptives.
This was due to disturbed tryptophan metabolism, expressed in increased xanthurenic
acid (XA) excretion (![Math Eq]()
) during 8 hours following oral administration of 2 g L-tryptophan. These contraceptives
contained a combination of oestrogens and progestogens.
) during 8 hours following oral administration of 2 g L-tryptophan. These contraceptives
contained a combination of oestrogens and progestogens.Normalization of the excretion was nearly always achieved by giving a large dose of
pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) (![Math Eq]()
for 4 weeks).
for 4 weeks).A previously normal XA excretion always showed a significant decrease after treatment
with pyridoxine hydrochloride.
The blood vitamin B6 concentration is not affected by the use of oral contraceptives
or intramuscular medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) injections (150 mg every 12 weeks).
In the literature, the synthetic oestrogens are regarded as responsible for the disturbance
in tryptophan metabolism.
The progestogen component of the combined oral contraceptives was found to exert an
influence on maximum XA excretion. This could be explained by the intrinsically oestrogenic
and anti-oestrogenic properties of the progestogens used.
Relative pyridoxine deficiency due to disturbed tryptophan metabolism was found also
in 5 out of 15 women who used MPA as contraceptive agent.
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 24,
1974
Identification
Copyright
© 1974 Published by Elsevier Inc.
