Unearthed connection between vitamin D and contraception revealed
The Lowdown on Estrogen-Based Birth Control and Vitamin D Levels
Women on estrogen-based contraceptives often show higher levels of vitamin D, while those who stop using these pills may experience a noticeable drop in this vital nutrient. This intriguing relationship between contraceptives and vitamin D has potential implications, particularly during pregnancy.
Vitamin D's Role:
Vitamin D is the superhero that helps maintain the perfect balance of calcium and phosphorus in your blood. It aids in the body's absorption of calcium, an integral component of your bones. Food sources rich in vitamin D include fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products, while around 90% of our daily dose is produced naturally in our skin after exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D Deficiency:
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia (softening of the bones) in adults. Given the crucial role of vitamin D in bone formation, it's of utmost importance, especially during pregnancy, as it supports the growth of the fetal skeleton.
Estrogen and Vitamin D:
A team of researchers led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, decided to investigate whether any changes in vitamin D levels were linked to the use of oral contraceptives.
They conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), focusing on almost 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34. The study delved into contraceptive use, time spent outside, and vitamin D supplementation. Out of these, 1,662 women granted blood samples to measure levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
The research findings revealed that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women, even after controlling for confounding factors such as seasonal exposure to light. The increase in vitamin D levels remained significant despite these adjustments.
"Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women," noted Dr. Harmon.
The team couldn't find any behavioral differences like increased time spent outdoors to explain the increase in vitamin D levels. They speculated that contraceptives containing estrogen might boost vitamin D levels, and those levels may decrease when women cease contraceptive use.
Adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% higher level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Current users of birth control had higher vitamin D levels, while past users displayed average vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy:
These findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggest that women who are planning to become pregnant may face a risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon advises women who plan to stop using birth control to take steps to maintain adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
The study only focused on African-American women; Dr. Harmon clarified that the same association has been observed in women of different ethnicities. In the United States, African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, so even small increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations may have a more significant impact.
Dr. Harmon is continuing to follow this group of women to further investigate the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels during pregnancy. Additionally, she is working on another group of participants to explore how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
As further research continues, understanding the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels may lead to improved knowledge on reproductive health and successful pregnancy outcomes.
Women on estrogen-based contraceptives may have higher levels of vitamin D compared to those who have stopped using these pills, potentially presenting a concern during pregnancy.
Vitamin D, often referred to as the superhero nutrient, aids in maintaining the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the blood and supports bone formation.
A study by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon and her team found that women using contraception containing estrogen had 20% higher levels of vitamin D, even after adjusting for confounding factors.
The implications of this finding are that women planning to become pregnant may face a risk of vitamin D deficiency if they stop using birth control.
The study, which focused on African-American women, suggested that understanding the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels could lead to improved knowledge on reproductive health and successful pregnancy outcomes.
Dr. Harmon is further investigating this relationship during pregnancy and exploring how vitamin D levels vary across the menstrual cycle in other participants.
