Higher Vitamin D Levels Observed in Women Using Estrogen-Based Birth Control
Unveiled connection found between vitamin D and contraception practices
Researchers have discovered a correlation between estrogen-based oral contraceptives and increased levels of vitamin D in women. According to a study conducted by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, women who use contraceptives containing estrogen experience higher quantities of circulating vitamin D, while those who stop using the pill experience a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is vital for maintaining correct calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood and aiding the body's absorption of calcium, an essential component of bones. Foods rich in vitamin D include fish and eggs, though around 90% of the vitamin is produced in the skin through a chemical reaction after exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D deficiency poses risks such as rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones). Given vitamin D's importance in bone formation, its role during pregnancy cannot be overlooked. Dr. Harmon's team investigated the relationship between oral contraceptives and vitamin D levels in a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, which included nearly 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34. After controlling for confounding factors such as seasonal exposure to light, the study found that women using contraception containing estrogen had 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D compared to other women.
These findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, have implications for women attempting to conceive or who are already pregnant. As women stop using birth control, they may risk becoming deficient in vitamin D. Dr. Harmon advises that taking steps to ensure adequate vitamin D levels before trying to conceive and during pregnancy is advisable.
Although further study is needed to understand the exact mechanisms behind estrogen-based contraception's effect on vitamin D levels, Dr. Harmon and her team are continuing to monitor the women in their study and exploring the relationship between vitamin D and the menstrual cycle in a separate group of participants.
It's worth noting that racial differences in vitamin D levels can influence health outcomes. Darker skin types, such as those observed in many African-American women, tend to have lower vitamin D levels due to reduced UVB absorption, which is crucial for vitamin D production in the skin. However, the overall association between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D levels seems to be consistent across racial groups, which suggests that this association is not directly related to race.
MNT reached out to Dr. Harmon for additional insights on the topic. Further research is needed to understand the specific relationship between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D levels, and in the meantime, it is advisable for individuals using these contraceptives to monitor their vitamin D levels and ensure adequate intake through diet or supplements if necessary. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
- The study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism revealed that women using estrogen-based contraceptives have 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D compared to other women.
- Given the importance of vitamin D in bone formation, particularly during pregnancy, women attempting to conceive or who are already pregnant may risk becoming deficient in vitamin D as they stop using birth control.
- Darker skin types, such as those often observed in African-American women, tend to have lower vitamin D levels due to reduced UVB absorption, which is crucial for vitamin D production in the skin.
- Further study is needed to understand the exact mechanisms behind estrogen-based contraception's effect on vitamin D levels.
- It is advisable for individuals using estrogen-based contraceptives to monitor their vitamin D levels and ensure adequate intake through diet or supplements if necessary, always consulting a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
- The relationship between oral contraceptives and vitamin D levels seems to be consistent across racial groups, suggesting that this association is not directly related to race.
