Serum Folate and Cobalamin Levels in Women Using Combined Contraceptive Vaginal Ring

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of combined contraceptive vaginal rings on serum concentrations of folate and cobalamin in healthy users. Material and Methods: Case-control study on cobalamin and folate status of 45 healthy female nulligravidae using a combined contraceptive vaginal ring for > 3 months and 45 healthy controls. Factors interfering with vitamin metabolism were thoroughly controlled. Results: Cobalamin and folate levels did not differ between the groups. Vegetarian diet, smoking or obesity did not have a significant influence. Conclusions: The use of a combined contraceptive vaginal ring provides an appropriate hormonal contraception in women with pre-existing cobalamin deficiency or restrictive diet habit in order to avoid interferences between vitamin B₁₂ metabolism and exogenously applied estrogens.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung: Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss der Anwendung eines Verhütungsrings zur hormonellen Kontrazeption auf die Folsäure- und Vitamin-B₁₂-Serumkonzentrationen bei gesunden Anwenderinnen zu untersuchen. Material und Methodik: Die Folat- und Vitamin-B₁₂-Serumspiegel von 45 gesunden Ringanwenderinnen wurden nach einer Anwendungsdauer von 3 Monaten mit denen eines altersentsprechenden Kontrollkollektivs unter sorgfältiger Berücksichtigung möglicher Einflussfaktoren verglichen. Ergebnisse: Die Folat- und Vitamin-B₁₂-Serumkonzentrationen unterschieden sich zwischen Studien- und Kontrollkollektiv nicht signifikant. Es konnte kein Einfluss von vegetarischer Ernährung, Nikotinabusus oder Übergewicht nachgewiesen werden. Schlussfolgerung: Bei fehlendem Nachweis eines negativen Einflusses auf den Folsäure- und Vitamin-B₁₂-Stoffwechsel müssen bei der Anwendung des Vaginalrings zur hormonellen Kontrazeption keine besonderen Ernährungs- oder Supplementierungsempfehlungen berücksichtigt werden.

Key words

folate - combined contraceptive vaginal ring - hormonal contraceptives - vitamin B₁₂

Schlüsselwörter

Folsäure - hormonelle Kontrazeption - Verhütungsring - Vitamin B₁₂

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