Summary
The effects of ethinyl oestradiol on plasma and urinary calcium and other indices
of bone turnover have been compared in peri- and postmenopausal women. In postmenopausal
women ethinyl oestradiol caused significant decreases in the fasting plasma total
and ionised calcium and phosphate concentrations, in alkaline phosphatase activity
and in the fasting urinary Ca/Cr and OHPr/Cr ratios. Similar, but less marked, effects
were observed in peri-menopausal women, with significant decreases in the fasting
plasma phosphate and urinary Ca/Cr ratio. Small decreases in the plasma total and
ionised calcium concentrations, in alkaline phosphatase activity and in the urinary
OHPr/Cr ratio also occurred but were not statistically significant in our sample.
Ethinyl oestradiol therefore appears to reduce bone loss in peri- as well as post-menopausal
women, at least in the short term, but the effect is less pronounced in the former
group.
Key-Words:
Ethinyl Oestradiol
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Oestrogens
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Bone
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Menopause
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Calcium
