Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraception revealed
Estrogen-Based Birth Control May Influence Vitamin D Levels
Researchers have discovered a connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels in women. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that women taking such contraceptives exhibit higher levels of vitamin D, while those who cease using them experience a significant drop.
Vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining proper calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and aiding the body's absorption of calcium, a crucial component of bones. Sources rich in vitamin D include fish, eggs, and, notably, sunlight, as around 90% of the vitamin is produced in the skin through a chemical reaction prompted by sun exposure.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones). Given its significance in bone formation, vitamin D is particularly critical during pregnancy.
Curious about any possible links between vitamin D levels and oral contraceptives, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conducted a study. The research team analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project focusing on reproductive health that included almost 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34.
The researchers asked participants about their contraceptive use and queried about their sun exposure and vitamin D supplement intake. In total, blood samples were collected from 1,662 women to assess vitamin D levels.
The study revealed that women on contraceptives containing estrogen demonstrated higher vitamin D levels compared to other participants. Even after controlling for factors such as seasonal light exposure, this effect remained significant.
Dr. Harmon noted that they could not find any behavioral explanations, such as increased sun exposure, to account for the increased vitamin D levels associated with estrogen-based contraception. Instead, their findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen may boost vitamin D levels, and those levels tend to decrease when women stop using them.
Further analysis revealed that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. At the same time, current users of birth control had higher vitamin D levels, while past users displayed average vitamin D levels.
These findings raise concerns about the risk of vitamin D deficiency among women planning to become pregnant since they may experience a significant drop in levels once they stop using contraception. Dr. Harmon advises that women considering stopping birth control should take steps to ensure adequate vitamin D levels before and during pregnancy.
In response to Medical News Today's question regarding the potential mechanism for estrogen-based contraception's effect on vitamin D levels, Dr. Harmon stated that further investigation is required to fully understand the relationship. Additionally, she plans to continue following the study group and investigating how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
While the study focused solely on African-American women, Dr. Harmon believes that the association between contraceptives and vitamin D levels is not related to race. In the U.S., African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, making even small increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations potentially significant.
- Women taking estrogen-based contraceptives may have higher vitamin D levels due to these contraceptives, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
- Contrary to this, women who cease using estrogen-based contraceptives may experience a significant drop in their vitamin D levels.
- Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining proper calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and aiding the body's absorption of calcium, which is significant in bone formation.
- The study, "Curious about any possible links between vitamin D levels and oral contraceptives," was conducted by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
- The study analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project focusing on reproductive health that included almost 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34.
- The use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, as revealed in the study, raising concerns about the risk of vitamin D deficiency among women planning to become pregnant.
