@article{ref1,
title="Do progestin-only contraceptives contribute to the risk of developing depression as implied by beta-arrestin 1 levels in leukocytes? A pilot study",
journal="International journal of environmental research and public health",
year="2018",
author="Smith, Keisha and Nayyar, Sanket and Rana, Tanu and Archibong, Anthony E. and Looney, Kimberly R. and Nayyar, Tultul",
volume="15",
number="9",
pages="e15091966-e15091966",
abstract="We reported previously that reduction in beta-arrestin 1 (β-AR 1) protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms in reproductive women. In this pilot study, we used β-AR 1 protein levels in PBMC as a marker for developing depressive symptoms and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores to assess potential mood-related side effects of oral contraceptive use for routine birth control among women. We evaluated 29 women in this study. We enrolled the participants in three groups: Estrogen-progestin combination-oral contraceptives (COC, <i>n</i> = 10), progestin-only contraceptives (POC, <i>n</i> = 12), and non-hormonal or no contraceptives (NC, <i>n</i> = 7). We determined the β-AR 1 protein levels in PBMCs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that women in the POC group had significantly higher HAM-D scores compared to those in the COC (<i>p</i> < 0.0004) and NC (<i>p</i> < 0.004). The levels of β-AR 1 protein were significantly attenuated in women in the POC group compared to women in the NC group (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Our findings suggest that the use of POC is a potential risk factor for developing depressive symptoms.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-7827",
doi="10.3390/ijerph15091966",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091966"
}