Uncovered connection between vitamin D and contraceptives hinted at in new findings
The Impact of Birth Control on Your Vitamin D Levels
Turns out, your choice of birth control might influence your vitamin D levels, particularly if you're a woman taking estrogen-based contraceptive pills. Researchers found that women on these pills have higher vitamin D levels, while those who stop using them experience a significant drop in these essential nutrients.
Vitamin D is a crucial player in maintaining the correct calcium and phosphorous levels in your blood, and it aids in the absorption of calcium, a vital component of your bones. Foods like fish and eggs are rich in vitamin D, but around 90% of the vitamin is produced in your skin through exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious conditions like rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones), and it's particularly significant during pregnancy. Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, decided to investigate if there were any changes in vitamin D levels associated with taking oral contraceptives.
The Connection Between Contraceptives and Vitamin D
Dr. Harmon and her team carried out a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a research project focused on reproductive health. The study included almost 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI.
The study gathered information about contraceptive use and included questions about outdoor time and any vitamin D supplements taken. In total, 1,662 women provided blood samples to measure their levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
During pregnancy, women produce increased levels of the active form of vitamin D to support the growth of the fetal skeleton, which heightens the risk of vitamin D deficiency and bone problems. The study found that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women.
After considering confounding factors like seasonal exposure to light, the association remained significant. It was observed that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with about 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Current users of birth control had higher vitamin D levels, while past users had average levels. This suggests that as women stop using birth control, they may be at risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D, especially when trying to become pregnant.
The Mystery of Estrogen and Vitamin D
Although the researchers aren't completely sure why estrogen-based birth control affects vitamin D levels, they suspect it might have something to do with the alterations in the metabolism of vitamin D. Further research is needed to uncover the exact mechanisms at play.
Moreover, the same association between estrogen-based contraceptive use and vitamin D levels has been observed in women outside the African-American community. While African-American women often have lower baseline vitamin D levels due to differences in skin pigmentation affecting UV-driven vitamin D synthesis, the influence of estrogen on vitamin D metabolism appears to be universal.
In conclusion, estrogen-based contraception might influence vitamin D metabolism through enhanced enzyme expression involved in its metabolism, and this effect is consistent across races. Women planning to stop using birth control are advised to ensure they have adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
- The study found that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women, which might influence their health-and-wellness and women's health.
- Researchers found that women on estrogen-based contraceptive pills have higher vitamin D levels compared to those who stop using them, highlighting the importance of multivitamins with adequate vitamin D for women's vitamins.
- The association between estrogen-based contraceptive use and vitamin D levels is not only significant within the African-American community but also observed in women outside that demographic.
- Osteomalacia, a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, could arise as a consequence of deficiencies in vitamin D levels, especially when women stop using birth control and try to conceive.
- Science has shown that vitamin D plays a significant role in maintaining the correct calcium and phosphorous levels in your blood, and it aids in the absorption of calcium, a vital component of your bones.
- Copious amounts of endocrinology research suggest that estrogen might influence the metabolism of vitamin D, causing an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among current users of birth control.
- Contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen are associated with about 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, emphasizing the impact of cultural differences on women's health and vitamin D levels.
- To minimize the risk of vitamin D deficiency, we encourage women planning to stop using birth control to ensure they have adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy, as expertise in Quaker's science and nutrition shows that maintaining proper nutrient intake is essential for women's health.
