Unveiled connection: Vitamin D potentially affects birth control efficiency
'Taking the Vitamin D Pills: Estrogen-Based Birth Control and Vitamin D Levels in Women'
Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in maintaining proper calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, aiding the body's absorption of calcium, a key component of bones. It's found abundantly in foods like fish and eggs. However, roughly 90% of vitamin D production occurs in the skin as a result of sunlight exposure.
Researchers investigating any possible link between vitamin D levels and the use of oral contraceptives, led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, focusing on almost 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34.
Dr. Harmon's study revealed that women using estrogen-containing contraception tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women. This association remained significant even when taking into account confounding factors like seasonal light exposure and vitamin D supplements. However, the study did not uncover any behavioral differences, such as increased outdoor time, that could explain the higher vitamin D levels.
After adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with approximately 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Current users of birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while past users showed average levels.
Dr. Harmon suggests that women planning to stop using birth control should take measures to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy. While the study focused solely on African-American women, these associations seem to be consistent regardless of race, as they have also been observed in non-African-American women.
This increased risk of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a cause for concern, as deficiency can lead to issues like rickets and osteomalacia. Pregnant women should take steps to maintain healthy vitamin D levels to support their own and their baby's overall health.
The exact mechanism behind estrogen-based contraceptives' impact on vitamin D levels is not yet clear. Research indicates that there may be changes in the metabolism of vitamin D when these contraceptives are used, and further investigation is necessary to fully understand this relationship.
To delve deeper into the relationship between vitamin D and estrogen-based contraception, Dr. Harmon plans to continue following the women in her study and conduct additional research. Stay tuned for further discoveries on this interesting topic!
Sources:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300903819323998
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6239087/
- Women using estrogen-containing birth control may have higher vitamin D levels, according to a study by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon.
- This association between birth control and vitamin D levels remained significant even after accounting for factors such as seasonal light exposure and vitamin D supplements.
- Researchers are suggesting that women planning to conceive or pregnant should ensure adequate vitamin D levels, given its crucial role in overall health and the potential risks of deficiency.
- The study focused on African-American women, but the associations seem consistent across different racial groups.
- The relation between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D metabolism is not yet understood, and more research is needed to explore this connection further.
- Various health-and-wellness brands increasingly offer women's vitamins focusing on beneficial nutrients like vitamin D to support women's health and combat potential deficiencies.
