Results of a study on the metabolic side-effects of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in undernourished lactating women, compared with non-lactating women, in three centres in India and Thailand are reported. Analysis of the data on anthropometric and biochemical parameters at the time of recruitment indicated that the lactating women were lighter and had lower plasma glucose and triglyceride levels and a higher alkaline phosphatase activity. Serum cholesterol levels tended to be higher during the first six months of lactation. Use of DMPA over a period of one year was not associated with any alteration in glucose tolerance and in the serum triglyceride, total protein and albumin levels. The observed fall in the cholesterol level and alkaline phosphatase activity in DMPA users might be attributed to waning lactation.
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