Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraception explored
Estrogen-Based Birth Control and Vitamin D Levels
In a recent study, researchers at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that women taking estrogen-based birth control pills have higher levels of circulating vitamin D. Conversely, women who cease using these contraceptives experience a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D is integral to maintaining the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. It aids the body's absorption of calcium, a vital component of bones. Foods such as fish and eggs are rich in vitamin D, but the majority of the vitamin is produced in the skin through a chemical reaction following exposure to sunlight.
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets and osteomalacia, or softening of the bones. Given its importance in bone formation, vitamin D is especially crucial during pregnancy. Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, lead researcher on the study, decided to investigate the connection between oral contraceptive use and vitamin D levels.
Harmon and her team analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, an ongoing investigation into reproductive health. This project involved almost 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI. The study ascertained contraceptive use and included questions on sun exposure and vitamin D supplement consumption.
Over 1,600 women provided blood samples to determine their levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D. During pregnancy, women produce increased levels of the active form of vitamin D to support fetal bone growth. This increased production leaves pregnant women more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency, so it is essential to monitor vitamin D levels during this time.
The research team found that women using contraception containing estrogen had higher vitamin D levels than other participants. This association persisted even after controlling for confounding factors such as seasonal exposure to light. Interestingly, women currently using birth control had higher vitamin D levels, while past users had average levels, suggesting that estrogen-based contraception may increase vitamin D levels.
Adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. As women consider becoming pregnant, they may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to decreased hormone levels. Dr. Harmon advises women planning to stop using birth control to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, raise questions about the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D. While the team is unsure why estrogen might affect vitamin D levels, further research may shed light on this association. They will continue to follow the study participants to investigate the relationship further and explore how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
The current study focused on African-American women, but Harmon believes this association is not confined to race. In the United States, African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, so even slight increases or decreases in vitamin D concentrations may have significant implications.
Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels is essential for overall health during pregnancy, supporting bone health and overall well-being. Pregnant women are advised to consult with their healthcare professionals about supplementation if necessary.
- In the health-and-wellness world, the importance of vitamins, especially women's vitamins, in nutrition, particularly women's multivitamins and vitamin D, cannot be overlooked.
- The scientific community has long recognized the significance of nutrient absorption, such as that of calcium, in maintaining bone health, a crucial aspect of women's health.
- However, cultural practices and science have often shown that sun exposure, a primary source of vitamin D, varies among different populations, leading to potential deficiencies.
- In a study on estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon and her team discovered that the use of such contraceptives was associated with higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
- This finding, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, raises questions about the impact of estrogen-based contraceptives on vitamin D deficiencies, a concern that transcends cultural boundaries, especially among African-American women.
- Thus, it is crucial for pregnant women, regardless of their ethnicity, to monitor their vitamin D levels, consulting with healthcare professionals to ensure optimal health and wellness during pregnancy.
