Vitamin supplements to women using oral contraceptives (studies of vitamins B 1, B 2, B 6 and A)

Abstract

Additional requirement of pyridoxine, thiamin and riboflavin necessary to prevent a decline in the nutritional status of these vitamins in women using an oral contraceptive — Ovral (ethinyl estradiol 0.05 mg and dl-norgestrel 0.5 mg) was examined. Ten mg of pyridoxine daily could mitigate the defect in tryptophan metabolism to a large extent. This amount could prevent the defect in erythrocyte aspartate amino transferase activity. Daily supplements of 3 mg thiamin and 2 mg riboflavin could prevent the decline in the nutritional status of these vitamins. Higher amounts of riboflavin would, however, be required to correct the initial deficiency of the vitamin.