The effect of lynestrenol and norethindrone on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in subjects with gestational diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different low-dose progestogens--norethindrone 0.3 mg per day and lynestrenol 0.5 mg per day--on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in women who have had gestational diabetes. Fifteen patients were treated with norethindrone and 17 with lynestrenol, over a period of one year. The control group consisted of 13 women using an IUD. In both treatment groups all the women had normal OGTT curves during the use of norethindrone or lynestrenol. A very slight deterioration in the glucose tolerance was observed in the norethindrone group. There was no deterioration in the glucose tolerance in the lynestrenol and the IUD groups. We could not find any significant changes in mean fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride values.