This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BECK, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BECK, P.

Comparison of the Metabolic Effects of Chlormadinone Acetate and Conventional Contraceptive Steroids in Man¹

Endocrinology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver, Colorado 80220

Over a 6-month period, no significant changes in the mean plasma glucose or insulin responses to glucose were observed in 8 nondiabetic or 16 subclinical diabetic women treated with chlormadinone acetate (6-chloro,6-dehydro,17-acetoxy,pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione),0.5 mg daily. When the glucose tolerance tests (GTT's) of each individual were compared before and after 6 months of chlormadinone acetate treatment, glucose tolerance became abnormal in only 2 subclinical diabetic subjects and deteriorated in 1 other. In addition, we compared the GTT's of 10 subclinical diabetic women treated alternately with conventional contraceptive steroids which contained synthetic estrogens and with chlormadinone acetate. After 2.5 months of treatment with conventional contraceptive steroids 2 of 10 subclinical diabetic subjects had abnormal glucose tolerance, and GTT's deteriorated in 3 others; by contrast, chlormadinone acetate administration for a comparable time in the same subjects produced 1 abnormal and 2 deteriorated GTT's. Chlormadinone acetate produced no significant alterations in fasting serum triglyceride or cholesterol concentrations, but decreased fasting serum growth hormone (HGH) levels were observed after 6 months of treatment. These findings indicate that, in the dosage employed, chlormadinone acetate produced no significant change in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and suggest that this synthetic progestin in women may be less diabetogenic and less capable of elevating circulating triglyceride concentrations than conventional contraceptive steroids.

¹ These studies were supported by USPHS Grants HD 02455 and FR 00051 and by a grant from Syntex Corporation. Presented in part at the 51st Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society, New York City, June 29, 1969. Address reprint requests to Dr. Paul Beck, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80220.

Received November 21, 1969.