Table 4.
Plasma lipid peroxidation, thiols and taurine
| Type | Fs, n = 72 | FOCs, n = 67 | P value | FOCA+, n = 28 | FOCA-, n = 39 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malonyldialdehyde (μM) | 4.2 ± 1.9, n = 69 | 4.1 ± 1.7, n = 66 | NS | 3.7 (1.3 to 8.6), n = 27 | 3.9 (0.9 to 8.6), n = 39 | NS |
| Homocysteine (μM) | 8.7 (4.0 to 41.1) | 8.3 (4.3 to 16.7) | NS | 8.3 ± 2.9 | 8.9 ± 2.9 | NS |
| Cysteine (μM) | 195.6 (118.9 to 350.7) | 176.6 (115.8 to 318.4) | 0.003 | 181.5 ± 39.8 | 186.6 ± 45.4 | NS |
| Cysteinglycine (μM) | 18.7 (7.6 to 33.6) | 19.5 (7.4 to 38.8) | NS | 20.6 (11.4 to 38.8) | 18.9 (7.4 to 33.0) | NS |
| Glucylcysteine (μM) | 4.5 ± 1.0 | 4.5 ± 0.9 | NS | 4.4 ± 1.0 | 4.5 ± 0.9 | NS |
| Glutathione (μM) | 7.4 (2.7 to 14.8) | 8.0 (3.9 to 14.9) | NS | 8.0 ± 2.4 | 8.2 ± 2.0 | NS |
| Taurine (μM) | 64.1 (31.7 to 202.7) | 59.6 (27.3 to 158.9) | NS | 60.9 (27.3 to 146.8) | 59.4 (36.3 to 158.9) | NS |
Data are expressed as the mean ± SD or as medians and ranges; n indicates the number of samples used to calculate the statistics.
FOCA+/FOCA- = FOCs further stratified as a function of androgenic (FOCA+) and non-androgenic (FOCA-) properties of progestins; FOCs = women treated with OCs for at least 3 months; Fs = women who had not used OCs for at least 3 months to ensure a sufficient washout period; NS = not significant; OC = oral contraceptive.