Effects of Oral Ethinyl Oestradiol and Norethisterone on Plasma Copper and Zinc Complexes in Post-Menopausal Women

Summary

Orally administered ethinyl oestradiol increased the plasma total copper concentration and reduced the albumin concentration in post-menopausal women. Approximately 80% of the increase in copper was due to a rise in caeruloplasmin-bound copper and 20% to an increase in the amount of copper bound per gram of albumin. The plasma total zinc concentration was reduced, due partly to the decrease in albumin concentration and partly to a reduction in the amount of zinc bound per gram of albumin. Norethisterone had no significant effect on plasma copper but it reduced plasma zinc and albumin, though to a lesser extent than ethinyl oestradiol. When administered sequentially with ethinyl oestradiol, norethisterone diminished the effects of the former on plasma copper, zinc and albumin.

Key-Words:

Oestrogens - Progestogens - Copper - Zinc - Plasma - Menopause - Women - Caeruloplasmin - α ₂ -macroglobulin - Albumin