Discovered connection between vitamin D and birth control hormones revealed
Vitamin D and Contraceptives: A New Connection
Turns out, ladies on estrogen-spiked birth control pills might be swimming in a sea of vitamin D! Yep, you heard that right. A study by the National Institutes of Health shows that estrogen-based contraceptives could jack up your vitamin D levels. But once you ditch the pill, say goodbye to those sunny days, because your vitamin D levels could take a nosedive.
So, what’s the big deal about vitamin D? Well, it's a superhero vitamin that keeps calcium and phosphorus in check, helping your body absorb calcium, a crucial component for building bones. Foods like fish and eggs are teeming with the stuff, but around 90% of our vitamin D is produced in our skin after a nice, sunny day.
Without enough vitamin D, you could be at risk for rickets and osteomalacia, the softening of your bones. Given that vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone formation, it's essential, especially during pregnancy.
Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, wanted to know if oral contraceptives had any influence on vitamin D levels. To find out, she dug into data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a project that looked into the reproductive health of over 1,600 African-American women living around Detroit, MI.
The Link Between Contraception and Vitamin D
The study questioned women about their use of contraception and how much time they spent outdoors, as well as whether they took any vitamin D supplements. Of the participants, 1,662 women generously donated blood samples to measure their levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most common circulating form of the vitamin.
The result? Women using contraception containing estrogen showed significantly higher vitamin D levels. Even after adjusting for factors like seasonal light exposure, the difference remained significant. Dr. Harmon confessed, "We couldn’t find any behavioral differences to explain the increase. Our findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, and those levels drop when women stop using contraception."
Adjusting for various factors, users of estrogen-based contraceptives, like pills, patches, or rings, showed a 20% hike in their vitamin D levels. Current users boasted higher vitamin D levels, and past users saw average levels.
Vitamin D in Early Pregnancy
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, raise a red flag. As you plan to step off the birth control rollercoaster and into the baby-making zone, you might be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon advises, "For women who are planning to quit birth control, it's wise to make sure your vitamin D levels are in check while trying to conceive and during pregnancy."
But why does estrogen-based contraception play such a significant role in vitamin D levels? Dr. Harmon explains, "We don't know exactly why vitamin D levels are higher. Other research suggests that the levels of other vitamin D metabolites are altered when women use estrogen-containing contraception. This hints that there may be changes in the metabolism of vitamin D."
The research focused solely on African-American women, but Dr. Harmon notes that the same association has been observed in women of different races. Given that African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, even small increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations could be more significant. Dr. Harmon is continuing to follow this group of women to delve deeper into the relationship and is working on another group of participants to investigate how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
[1] Vitamin D and Pregnancy[2] Estrogen and Ovarian Steroidogenesis[3] The Role of Vitamin D in Calcium Homeostasis and Bone Health[4] The Importance of Adequate Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy
- The study conducted by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences discovered that estrogen-based contraceptives, like pills, patches, or rings, can boost women's vitamin D levels significantly.
- The National Institutes of Health study revealed that extended use of estrogen-spiked birth control pills might result in high vitamin D levels, but a decrease in vitamin D levels once the pill is discontinued.
- Vitamin D, a vital nutrient for women's health and nutrient metabolism, plays a crucial role in calcium absorption and bone health, making it essential, particularly during pregnancy.
- Multi women's vitamins, which often include vitamin D, could be useful for women trying to maintain healthy vitamin D levels after discontinuing estrogen-based contraceptives.
- Cultural differences and practices can influence sunlight exposure, Vitamin D production in the skin, and the consumption of vitamin D-rich foods like fish and eggs, potentially affecting the prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies in different ethnic groups.
- In health-and-wellness and nutrition discussions, it's essential to consider the impact of contraceptives on vitamin D levels, particularly for women's health and during early pregnancy, when adequate vitamin D is crucial for bone formation and the baby's development.
