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WithdrawnNCT00301587Updated Sep 20, 2016

A Study to Evaluate Folate Levels in Women Taking Oral Contraceptives

A Phase 3 interventional study of Norgestimate-ethinyl estradiol, with or without folic acid in Neural Tube Defects, Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities and Nervous System Malformations, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.. Withdrawn. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2016-09-20.

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (part of Johnson & Johnson) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Company decision to not fund further development of women's health new drug development programs.
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to compare red blood cell folate levels in women who are taking oral contraceptives with or without folic acid

Read the detailed description

Studies have shown an association between increased folic acid (a synthetic form of folate, a B-vitamin) intake and reduction of a birth defect referred to as neural tube defects (NTDs). If women using contraception were to receive a combination of an oral contraceptive and folic acid, they may have the benefit of increased blood folate levels, which could reduce the risk of NTDs. This is a multi-center, double-blind study designed to study red blood cell folate levels in women who are taking oral contraceptives with or without folic acid. Patients will receive oral contraceptives with or without folic acid for 8 cycles of 28 days each. The study will consist of 2 parts of 4 cycles each. All patients will receive oral contraceptives throughout both parts of the study, patients may or may not receive folic acid in combination with the oral contraceptive during 1 or both parts of the study. The concentration of red blood cell folate will be determined by laboratory tests after Cycles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Safety evaluations (incidence of adverse events, electrocardiograms, physical examinations, laboratory tests) will be performed throughout the study. Patients may also participate in an optional portion of the study in which their genetic material is analyzed to see if contains something that would affect the way folic acid is used by their bodies. The study hypothesis is that women taking an oral contraceptive with folic acid will have increased levels of red blood cell folate compared to women taking an oral contraceptive without folic acid. Some women who receive the oral contraceptive with folic acid during the first four cycles will be transitioned to an oral contraceptive without folic acid for Cycles 5-8. In this group of women, the rate of decrease in red blood cell folate levels will be measured. Norgestimate 250 micrograms (mcg)-ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg tablets, with or without folic acid 400 mcg, 2 tablets taken by mouth daily between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for 8 cycles of 28 days duration each for a total of 224 days

02

Conditions studied

  • Neural Tube Defects
  • Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities
  • Nervous System Malformations

Keywords

  • spina bifida
  • birth defects
  • folic acid
  • nervous system diseases
  • folate
  • Vitamin B
03

In context

Neural Tube Defects

52 studies on the registry are indexed under Neural Tube Defects; 11 are open to participants now.

Browse Neural Tube Defects studies →

Lead sponsor

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. is the lead sponsor of 465 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Non-pregnant post menarcheal, premenopausal females who agree to use the assigned study medication as contraception during the study
  • Non-vegan
  • Non-smoker or no history of tobacco use within 6 months
  • Willing to follow protocol-specific prohibitions and restrictions regarding diet, smoking and use of other medications

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have taken multivitamins, folic-acid containing supplements, or highly fortified (i.e., >200 mcg folic acid/serving) cereals within 30 days of entry in to the study
  • history or presence of blood clots in the veins, strokes or other blood clotting disorder, liver tumor from pervious contraceptive or estrogen use, disease of the blood vessels of the brain or heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, cancer in any part of the body, diabetes mellitus with complications in the flow of blood in the body, jaundice, visual disturbance, liver disease, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, gastric bypass surgery, ulcerative colitis or other digestive system disorders, abnormal thyroid function, Vitamin B 12 deficiency or very high red blood cell folate levels, alcohol or substance abuse, positive for drugs of abuse
  • recent use of hormonal contraceptives
  • on any weight reduction diet
  • blood donation within 30 days of study entry
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Interventions

  • DrugNorgestimate-ethinyl estradiol, with or without folic acid
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Part 1: Change in concentration of folate in red blood cells (RBC) from the start of the study to Cycle 4 (4 cycles of 28 days of treatment)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in plasma folate concentration from baseline to Cycle 4; Levels and change from baseline in RBC and plasma folate concentration at specified time points during the study including Cycles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 20, 2016, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00301587
First posted
Mar 13, 2006
Completion
Dec 2004 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 20, 2016

Study contacts

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L. C. Clinical Trial
study director · Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is withdrawn, as verified in Jul 2011. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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