Exogenous estrogens and progestins may affect the components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Changes in ventricular blood volume are associated with increased secretion of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), which may also be affected by hormonal contraceptives. In this study, we aimed to compare components of the RAAS and NT-proBNP between groups using different hormonal contraceptives, including the combination pill, the injection or implant, and controls (no contraception) in black and white women of fertile age (20 - 30 years). Secondly, we determined whether blood pressure and NT-proBNP are associated with the RAAS components. We included 397 black and white women not using contraceptives, 120 using the combination pill, and 103 receiving an injection/implant. RAAS Triple-A analysis was carried out with LC-MS/MS quantification, and blood pressure measurements (ABPM) taken over 24 h. We found that serum aldosterone was higher (475.7 vs. 249.2 pmol/L; p < 0.001) in the combination pill group than in the no contraception group of white women. The aldosterone-angiotensin II ratio (AA2) was higher (5.4 vs. 2.5; p < 0.001) in the combination pill group than in the no contraception group. In the black women using the combination pill, we found a borderline-positive and borderline-negative association between 24-h systolic blood pressure and NT-proBNP with equilibrium (eq) Ang II, respectively. In white women using the combination pill, only CRP contributed positively and independently to NT-proBNP. To conclude, activation of RAAS by different hormonal contraceptives may increase future risk for the development of hypertension in young black and white women.
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