Discovered Connection Between Vitamin D and Hormonal Contraception Revealed
Re-written Article:
Put your sunnies on, 'cause we're diving into the sun-kissed world of vitamin D! This marvelous vitamin dances a delicate dance with calcium and phosphorous in your blood, ensuring your bones stay strong and shiny. You can find a heap of vitamin D in foods like fish and eggs, but did you know around 90% of your daily dose comes from sun exposure?
Vitamin D's got a knack for helping your body absorb that essential calcium, making bones a fortress for your inner pirate. But absence makes the heart grow weak, and a vitamin D deficiency can lead to some serious bone bending - potentially causing problems like rickets and osteomalacia.
Now, keep in mind that pregnant ladies need a boatload of vitamin D for their little sailors, so they run a higher risk of deficiency and the bone troubles that follow. That's why researcher, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health, decided to delve into any links between vitamin D levels and oral contraceptives.
Vitamin Sea and Contraception
Dr. Harmon and her team dove headfirst into the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project examining reproductive health. With nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI, the study asked about contraceptive use, sunlight exposure, and the use of vitamin D supplements.
In total, 1,662 women generously lent their blood samples for analysis, focusing on levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most common circulating form of the vitamin.
So, what did they find? Dr. Harmon and her team discovered that ladies using contraception containing estrogen had higher vitamin D levels compared to others. This trend remained significant even after factoring in confounding variables like seasonal light exposure.
"Surprisingly, we couldn't pinpoint any behavioral differences, such as increased sunbathing, to explain the increase," said Dr. Harmon. "Our findings hint that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, and those levels may decrease when women stop using hormonal birth control."
The team noted a 20% increase in vitamin D levels among contraceptive users, with higher levels for current users and average levels for past users.
Vitamin D Depleted in Early Pregnancy
This new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggests that women starting to try for a baby may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon advises future moms-to-be to stay on top of their vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
Medical News Today asked Dr. Harmon her thoughts on why estrogen-based contraception might affect vitamin D levels. She said:
"It's unclear why vitamin D levels might increase. Some studies hint that other vitamin D metabolites may be changed when using estrogen-containing contraception, suggesting shifts in the metabolism of vitamin D. More research is needed to understand these potential effects."
While the study focused solely on African-American women, Dr. Harmon acknowledged that racial differences may play a role in the impact of estrogen-based contraception on vitamin D levels.
"Similar associations have been observed in women who are not African-American, so we believe this relationship is not race-specific," explained Dr. Harmon. "In the United States, African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, so small changes could be more significant in this population."
Dr. Harmon continues to follow the SELF study participants to further investigate the relationship and is also working with another group to examine vitamin D fluctuations across the menstrual cycle.
In a world full of sunblock and indoor living, it pays to keep vitamin D levels in check – especially for those using estrogen-based contraception. To feel and function at your best, it's vital to keep those sunnies on, sip your vitamin D-rich smoothies, and stay looped in on the latest research to maintain a healthy dose of this vital vitamin!
- The study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, called the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), focused on the connections between vitamin D levels and contraceptive use in 1,662 African-American women.
- Contraceptives containing estrogen were found to boost vitamin D levels, with a 20% increase observed among contraceptive users.
- Future moms-to-be may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to changes in their hormonal levels when trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
- The exact reasons for the link between estrogen-containing contraception and vitamin D levels remain unclear, and more research is needed to understand the potential metabolic shifts involved.
- The SELF study also aims to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and fluctuations across the menstrual cycle.
- To ensure optimal health, women using estrogen-based contraception should maintain a proper balance of vitamins, such as women's vitamins and vitamin D, stay aware of their nutrient consumption, and prioritize a healthy lifestyle.
