Interplay of Total Antioxidant Capacity and Oxidative Stress Hydroperoxides with Circulating Biomarkers of Inflammation and Iron Status According to Oral Contraception Use

We evaluated the interplay between systemic total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress (OS) (lipid hydroperoxides), inflammation, iron status, and oral contraception (OC) use in 182 healthy 23-year-old women (76 OC-users, and 106 non-OC-users). In all women, blood TAC (FORD units) values were significantly inversely associated with OS (FORT units), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and transferrin; and positively associated with transferrin saturation (TfS%). No significant associations were observed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, serum iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), sTfR/log(ferritin) ratio (sTfR-F index), ferritin, folate, uric acid, or creatinine. OS hydroperoxides were positively associated with hsCRP and transferrin, and inversely associated with TfS%. sTfR was positively correlated with hydroperoxides in non-OC-users and with folate in all women and non-OC-users, but was not associated with hsCRP in any group. The combined abnormal condition of low TAC and elevated OS (n = 71) was significantly more frequent among OC-users (OR = 39.0), women with hsCRP ≥ 3 mg L−1 (OR = 10.1), transferrin ≥ 330 mg dL−1 (OR = 6.58), and smokers (OR = 3.76). OC use modulated the TAC/OS balance and inflammation. Low TAC and elevated OS may impact health status. Enhanced TAC/OS knowledge may increase awareness of effects of OC use among fertile-age women. Ferritin was independent of TAC/OS status and OC use, supporting its reliability as an iron biomarker.