Discovered Connection Between Vitamin D and Birth Control Contraceptives
Scooping the Sun: Is Birth Control Kicking Vitamin D into High Gear?
Who knew popping a pill could boost your vitamin D? New research suggests that women who consume estrogen-based birth control experience higher levels of this sunshine vitamin. But before you ditch those rays, there's more to this story.
Vitamin D 101
Vitamin D's main mission is to keep calcium and phosphorous in check, our body's bread and butter for bone health. This superstar also helps absorb calcium, a crucial component for bone-building. Foods like fish, eggs, and fortified dairy are rich in vitamin D. But guess what produces about 90% of our vitamin D? Old Sol! That's right – time spent soaking up the sun triggers a chemical reaction in our skin for vitamin D synthesis.
Deficiency in this bone nurturer can spell trouble, including rickets and osteomalacia, which make bones soft and brittle. Because it's instrumental in growing baby bones, vitamin D is vital during pregnancy.
Birth Control and Vitamin D: A Hidden Bond?
Enter Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, of the National Institutes of Health, who decided to probe the connection between vitamin D and oral contraceptives. Her 1,662-woman study, conducted on African-American women in Detroit aged 23-34, found that women using estrogen-laced birth control tended to exhibit higher vitamin D levels compared to their peers.
Even after accounting for factors like seasonal light exposure and vitamin D supplement consumption, the connection remained significant. The question remained: why?
Let's Get Scientific
As it turns out, birth control pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen were associated with a 20% boost in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Interestingly, current users of contraceptives had higher vitamin D levels, while past users, on average, had typical vitamin D levels.
The Great Vitamin D Tango
But what does this mean for women considering pregnancy? When planning to conceive or during pregnancy, it's essential to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Since estrogen-based contraception might increase your vitamin D stores, stopping the medication may put you at risk for deficiency.
"Further work is needed" to determine the exact mechanism behind this vitamin D dance, says Dr. Harmon. Though studies have shown that hormonal birth control can contribute to nutrient depletion, our understanding of its specific effects on vitamin D levels is still limited.
The Color of Vitamin D
Throughout the research, the study focused exclusively on African-American women. So, what about other racial groups? In the broader picture, the same association has been observed in various populations. In the United States, African-American women have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. Consequently, even small increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations might be more significant.
Dr. Harmon plans to continue following the women in her study, while also investigating how vitamin D varies throughout the menstrual cycle. The intrigue on this sunny vitamin is far from over!
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/viramin-d/everyone-needs-vitamin-d.html[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK358421/[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943824/
- Women taking estrogen-based birth control may have higher levels of vitamin D, a crucial nutrient essential for bone health and absorption of calcium.
- Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health, conducted a study finding that African-American women using estrogen-laced birth control had higher vitamin D levels.
- The study found that users of contraceptives containing estrogen showed a 20% boost in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels compared to non-users.
- Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is essential when planning to conceive or during pregnancy, as estrogen-based contraception may increase your vitamin D stores.
- More research is needed to determine the exact mechanism behind this association and its impact on women's health and endocrinology.
- In the US, African-American women have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, making even small changes in their vitamin D concentrations more significant.
- The effects of vitamin D on nutrient levels in other racial groups remain limited and require further investigation.
- The color of vitamin D research is far from over, with more studies planned to investigate how vitamin D varies throughout the menstrual cycle and its broader implications for women's health and nutrition.
