Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164241

Title: USE OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ALTERS ZINC KINETIC PARAMETERS IN WOMEN

Author
item YOKOI, KATSUHIKO - SEITOKU UNIVERSITY
item EGGER, NORMAN - UNIV TEXAS - GALVESTON
item RAMANUJAM, V - UNIV TEXAS - GALVESTON
item ALCOCK, NANCY - UNIV TEXAS - GALVESTON
item DAYAL, HARI - UNIV TEXAS - GALVESTON
item Penland, James
item SANDSTEAD, HAROLD - UNIV TEXAS - GALVESTON

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2003
Publication Date: 3/24/2004
Citation: Yokoi, K., Egger, N.G., Ramanujam, V.M., Alcock, N.W., Dayal, H.H., Penland, J.G., Sandstead, H.H. 2004. Use of oral contraceptives alters zinc kinetic parameters in women [abstract]. The Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology Journal. 18:A93.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Oral contraceptives (OCs) were known to affect metabolism of minerals including zinc (Prasad, Am J Clin Nutr 28:377, 1975; Vijayalakshmi, Indian J Nutr Diet 21:225, 1984). To define effects of OCs on Zn metabolism, Zn kinetics was measured in 15 OC users and 35 nonusers of similar socioeconomic status served as controls. The OC users were slightly younger than the nonusers (26.6±4.3 years vs 30.2±5.5 years, mean±SD, P=0.019). Total iron binding capacity (mean±SD, ug/dL) in serum was significantly different between the OC users and nonusers (337±48 vs 302±48, P=0.042). Alkaline phosphate activity in serum of the OC users was significantly lower than the nonusers (47±14 vs 61±17 U/L, mean±SD, P=0.006). Activated partial thromboplastin time of the OC users was shorter than the nonusers (27.4±2.7 vs 29.8±3.3 sec, mean±SD, P=0.017). OCs significantly increased the central Zn pool (Q**1, the plasma) per fat free mass: the OC users 54.6±13.0 u/kg vs the nonusers 45.9±13.0 ug/kg (mean±SD, P=0.041). The fractional rate constant from the central Zn pool to the lesser peripheral Zn pool (Q**2) assigned to liver was significantly different between the OC users and the nonusers (77.3±11.6 vs 64.6±10.8 day**-1, mean±SD, P=0.017). The OCs tended to increase the size of Q**2. These results suggest that OCs increase Zn uptake by peripheral tissues including liver. Support: DAMD 17-95-C-5112 & USPHS M01-RR-00073.