Report of a workshop: Interaction between oral contraceptives and essential dietary nutrients

To assess the interaction of contraceptive steroids and essential nutrients a group of experts convened at the Center for Population Research of the National Institutes of Health. They examined the existing body of knowledge on this topic. From their data it is evident that serum folic acid levels were decreased in 0% to 40% of all contraceptive users while tryptophan metabolism was affected in 75% of all contraceptive users studied. Other effects could not be established by pre-existing data. Megaloblastic anemia was reported as was a decrease in serotonin production with a subsequent decrease of tryptophan which could lead to mental depression. It was suggested that vitamin-B-6 therapy is useful in the treatment of oral contraceptive-associated depression. Oral contraceptives may also affect melanin formation and catecholamine formation by influencing tyrosine metabolism. Large-scale dietary supplementation was judged unwarranted at the time but it was suggested that the problem be further explored.