Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Combined Oral Contraceptives Users and Is Positively Associated with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Information concerning the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in young healthy women predisposing eventually to future diseases is scarce. We investigated the relationship of oxidative stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in fertile-age women by oral combined contraceptive (OC) use. Caucasian Italian healthy non-obese women (n = 290; 100 OC-users; 190 non-OC-users; mean age 23.2 ± 4.7 years) were analyzed. Blood hydroperoxides, as oxidative stress biomarkers, were assessed by Free Oxygen Radical Test (FORT). Serum hsCRP was determined by an ultra-sensitive method (hsCRP). Markedly elevated oxidative stress (≥400 FORT Units) was found in 77.0% of OC-users and 1.6% of non-OC-users, odds ratio (OR) = 209, 95% CI = 60.9–715.4, p p s = 0.622, p s = 0.442, p s = 0.426, p < 0.001). Women with hydroperoxides ≥ 400 FORT Units were eight times as likely to have hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/L. In non-OC-users only, hydroperoxides values were positively correlated with weight and body mass index, but negatively correlated with red meat, fish and chocolate consumption. Our research is the first finding a strong positive correlation of serum hydroperoxides with hsCRP, a marker of low-grade chronic inflammation, in young healthy women. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential role of these two biomarkers in OC-use associated side-effects, like thromboembolism and other CVDs

Characteristics of the study subjects and comparison of conventional and non-genetic risk factors of lumbar spine pathologies between controls and all cases or subgroups.

<p>Characteristics of the study subjects and comparison of conventional and non-genetic risk factors of lumbar spine pathologies between controls and all cases or subgroups.</p

Association of lumbar spine pathologies and <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI alleles.

<p>Association of lumbar spine pathologies and <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI alleles.</p

Estimated frequencies of <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI haplotypes.

<p>Estimated frequencies of <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI haplotypes.</p

Association of lumbar spine pathologies and <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI combined genotypes.

<p>Association of lumbar spine pathologies and <i>VDR</i> BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI combined genotypes.</p

LD plots (r²) are shown for all subjects (a), controls (b) and cases (c).

<p>LD plots (r²) are shown for all subjects (a), controls (b) and cases (c).</p