LONG-TERM EFFECT OF LOW-DOSE COMBINED STEROID-CONTRACEPTIVES ON BODY IRON STATUS

The present study was aimed to evaluate iron metabolism in active and healthy adult women having taken oral contraceptives (OC) long-term. Mean dietary iron intake in age-matched control and experimental groups was adequate. Serum ferritin used as a marker for body iron stores was marginal in both groups underlying a high prevalence of deficient-iron reserves among subjects. This parameter was not correlated to the iron content of the diet. The serum iron concentration was significantly higher in OC users than control subjects (p < 0.001). Biochemical results commanded a discussion on the pertinence of evaluating the total dietary iron intake and on the sensitivity of biochemical methods used to assess the iron status.