COMPARATIVE CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT ON CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID-METABOLISM OF 2 NORETHISTERONE-CONTAINING HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES -MESIGYNA AND TRINOVUM

The effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of two hormonal contra ceptive preparations containing norethisterone (commercially known as Mesigyna and TriNovum) was studied in a total of 60 women, before and after 6 months of treatment. Carbohydrate metabolism was evaluated by means of a euglycemic glucose clamp test; lipid metabolism was monitor ed by measuring total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, V LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. The two groups were properly match ed with the exception of pretreatment levels of cholesterol and LDL-ch olesterol. At the end of treatment, no difference was found within or between groups in fasting glucose and insulin levels and in glucose ra te of disappearance A significant increase in total cholesterol, HDL-c holesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol was found in both groups at the end o f the treatment period; in addition, TriNovum caused a significant inc rease also in triglycerides. In conclusion, the safety of both prepara tions with regard to carbohydrate metabolism was confirmed using the m ost accurate method available; furthermore, changes in lipid metabolis m were such as to have little clinical significance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.