Underlying connection between vitamin D and contraception findings revealed
Pill Poppers and Sunshine Vitamins: Exploring the Connection Between Birth Control and Vitamin D
Turns out, women on estrogen-based birth control pills have a surge of Vitamin D in their systems. Surprise, surprise, ditch the pills, and the vitamin D levels take a nose dive. But why is this sunshine vitamin so important, and what's the deal with its connection to birth control?
Vitamin D, the superstar behind calcium regulation, keeps the calcium and phosphorous levels in check in your blood. It doesn't stop there; it's the body's personal vitamin D djinn, helping it absorb calcium—a vital component for your bones.
Foods like fish and eggs are chock-full of this magical vitamin, but here's a fun fact: around 90 percent of Vitamin D comes straight from the sun, thanks to a nifty chemical reaction in your skin when it's bright and beautiful.
Deficiency in this sunshine vitamin can lead to rickets, osteomalacia (softening of the bones), and during pregnancy, it can increase the risk of developing bone problems. That's why it's crucial, especially during pregnancy.
Investigating this mysterious connection, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, decided to get the inside scoop on how birth control affects Vitamin D levels.
Contraception and Vitamin D: A Closer Look
To dig deeper, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis on 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 women were grilled about their contraceptive use and filled out questionnaires regarding outdoor time and any supplements they took. In total, 1,662 women provided blood samples to determine levels of the most common circulating form of Vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
"Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher levels of Vitamin D than other women,"
Dr. Quaker E. Harmon
Even after controlling for confounding factors like seasonal light exposure, the effect remained significant.
"We couldn't find any behavioral differences such as increased time spent outdoors to explain the increase," said Dr. Harmon. "Our findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost Vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women cease using contraception."
After adjustments 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.
At the same time, current users of birth control had higher levels of Vitamin D, and past users had average Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
With this newfound knowledge, it's essential to be aware that as a woman starts trying to conceive, she runs the risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon advises:
"For women who are planning to stop using birth control, it is worth taking steps to ensure that Vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy."
The current study focused solely on African-American women, but race doesn't seem to play a significant role in this effect, according to Dr. Harmon.
"The same association has been observed in young and older women who are not African-American, so we believe this association is not related to race."
Dr. Harmon continues to investigate the relationship further and is also working on another group of participants to examine how Vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
Find out how higher Vitamin D levels could potentially lower cancer risk.
Insights: Estrogen-based contraceptives may indirectly increase Vitamin D levels by influencing vitamin D metabolism, increasing binding proteins, enhancing bone health, or hormonal regulation. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved.
- Although estrogen-based birth control pills can lead to a surge in Vitamin D levels, ceasing their use can cause a significant drop in Vitamin D levels.
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating calcium and maintaining proper levels of calcium and phosphorous in the blood.
- Deficiencies in Vitamin D can lead to conditions such as rickets, osteomalacia, and increased risks of developing bone problems in pregnancy.
- Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health, conducted a study examining the connection between contraceptives containing estrogen and Vitamin D levels.
- The study, conducted on African-American women, found that women using such contraceptives tended to have higher levels of Vitamin D, and the effect remained significant even after controlling for confounding factors.
- As women planning to conceive stop using birth control, it is essential to ensure adequate Vitamin D levels, as deficiencies pose a potential risk, regardless of race. In the future, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved and fully appreciate the impact of Vitamin D on women's health, health-and-wellness, and nutrition.
