Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraception revealed
Lowdown on Vitamin D and Birth Control Pills
Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in maintaining correct calcium and phosphorus levels in your blood and aids in absorbing calcium - a crucial component for building strong bones. This essential vitamin can be found in foods like fish and eggs, but approximately 90% of it is produced naturally through a chemical reaction triggered by sunlight exposure on the skin.
A study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, delved into the link between vitamin D levels and oral contraceptives.
Vitamin D and Contraception
The research analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a reproductive health investigation involving almost 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in or around Detroit, MI. The study asked participants about their contraceptive use, time spent outside, and vitamin D supplements.
Blood samples were collected from 1,662 women to ascertain levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D or 25(OH)D). Results shown that women using contraceptives containing estrogen had higher vitamin D levels compared to those not using such contraceptives.
After controlling for confounding factors such as seasonal light exposure, the effect remained significant. Dr. Harmon explained that they could not find any behavioral differences, like increased outdoor time, to account for the increase in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
The study's findings suggest that a woman planning to conceive or become pregnant may experience vitamin D deficiency due to contraceptive use. Dr. Harmon advises women to ensure adequate vitamin D levels before conceiving and during pregnancy.
Estrogen-based contraception appears to influence vitamin D metabolism and transport, leading to increased 25(OH)D levels. The exact reason for this is still unclear, but some research suggests that the levels of other vitamin D metabolites may change when women use estrogen-containing contraceptives, indicating alterations in vitamin D metabolism.
Dr. Harmon believes that this association does not appear to be related to race. 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 significant impact.
Further studies are planned to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and contraceptive use, and how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
- The study on vitamin D and contraception found that women using contraceptives containing estrogen had higher levels of vitamin D compared to those not using such contraceptives.
- This increase in vitamin D levels was significant even after controlling for confounding factors like seasonal light exposure, and no behavioral differences were found to account for it.
- The research suggest that a woman planning to conceive or become pregnant may experience vitamin D deficiency due to contraceptive use.
- Dr. Harmon advises women to ensure adequate vitamin D levels before conceiving and during pregnancy, as estrogen-based contraception appears to influence vitamin D metabolism and transport.
- The study did not find any evidence to suggest that this association is related to race, but 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 significant impact.
- Future studies are planned to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and contraceptive use, and how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle, with a focus on understanding the science of women's health and nutrition in the context of health-and-wellness.
