Effect of oral contraceptives on ascorbic acid status of young women consuming a constant diet

The effects of various combined oral contraceptives (OCs) on plasma, leukocyte, and urinary levels of ascorbic acid were studied in 10 well-nourished women. Based on dietary records, prestudy ascorbic acid intake ranged from 100 to 500 mg/day. By the end of the 1st day of treatment, no marked alterations in plasma or leukocyte ascorbic acid levels, or in tissue ascorbic acid absorption, were observed. After the subjects had lived in a metabolic unit for 8 or 12 days, in which they received a constant diet containing about 155 mg/day ascorbic acid, there was still no marked differences between the treatment group and controls in plasma, leukocyte, and urinary ascorbic acid. The results are contrary to previously reported findings which suggest that OC use adversely affects ascorbic acid status.