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Effects of Steroid Pharmaceuticals on Plasma Zinc

Nature volume 232, pages 480–481 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

ORAL contraceptives have been found to cause large changes in the levels of copper and iron in the blood1. Their effects on the level of plasma zinc, however, are uncertain, for although in one case it was reported that the level increased2, in another significant decreases were found3. Apart from testosterone propionate, which was found to increase the level of plasma zinc4, other widely used steroid pharmaceuticals have not been investigated. We therefore undertook to determine the effects of such substances, including oral contraceptives, on the plasma zinc of healthy human subjects.

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References

  1. Briggs, M. H., et al., Adv. Steroid Biochem. Pharmacol., 2, 111 (1970).

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  2. O'Leary, J. A., and Spellacy, W., Amer. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 103, 131 (1969).

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  3. Halstead, J. A., and Smith, J. C., Lancet, i, 322 (1970).

  4. Leonov, V. A., and Dubina, T. L., in Mikroelm. Biofere (edit. by Makeev, O. V.), 2, 562 (Moscow, 1967).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Zambia, Lusaka

    M. H. BRIGGS & MAXINE BRIGGS

  2. College of Technology, Belfast

    J. AUSTIN

Authors
  1. M. H. BRIGGS
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  2. MAXINE BRIGGS
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  3. J. AUSTIN
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BRIGGS, M., BRIGGS, M. & AUSTIN, J. Effects of Steroid Pharmaceuticals on Plasma Zinc. Nature 232, 480–481 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/232480a0

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