Abstract

In this study, the effects of vitamin E and folic acid on the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) production and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities in female wistar rats treated with combined oral contraceptives (COC) containing ethinyl estradiol in combination with levonorgestrel were determined. Twenty female rats were divided into four groups: group A (control) received distilled water; group B received combined oral contraceptives (COC) for 15 days with a dosage of 0.667 mg/kg body weight/day; group C received combined oral contraceptive and vitamin E (0.667 mg/kg body weight COC + 15 mg/kg body weight of vitamin E/day) for 15 days and group D received combined oral contraceptives and folic acid (0.667 mg/kg body weight of COC + 1 mg/kg body weight/day) for 15 days. Administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase levels by 90 and 69% respectively. In catalase, administration of vitamin E significantly decrease (p < 0.05) catalase level by 47% while administration of folic acid has no significant difference (p > 0.05) in catalase level. In addition, administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by 21 and 11% respectively. Administration of vitamin E and folic acid caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in glutathione-S-transferase by 39 and 23%, respectively.

Key words: Combined oral contraceptives, vitamin E, folic acid, antioxidant enzymes.