Unveiled Findings on Vitamin D and Contraceptive Correlation
Estrogen-Based Birth Control and Vitamin D: Uncovering the Connection
Vitamin D, a crucial nutrient, plays a vital role in maintaining the correct calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, and helps the body absorb calcium, essential for bone health. While foods like fish and eggs are high in vitamin D, around 90% of it is produced in the skin through a chemical reaction after exposure to sunlight [1].
Researchers have discovered an interesting connection between estrogen-based birth control pills and vitamin D levels. Women taking these contraceptives have higher quantities of circulating vitamin D, while those who stop using them experience a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
A study carried out by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, investigated this connection [2]. The researchers analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), an investigation of reproductive health involving nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI.
In the study, women were asked about their contraceptive use and questionnaire questions included time spent outdoors and any vitamin D supplements taken. In total, 1,662 women provided blood samples to measure levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
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 [2]. This finding suggests that estrogen-based contraception may boost vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women cease using contraception.
This study's findings suggest that as a woman starts trying to become pregnant, she runs the risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D. To mitigate this risk, it's worth taking steps to ensure vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
While the study focused on African-American women, the same association has been observed in women of different races, indicating that this association may not be related to race [3].
Further research is needed to fully understand why estrogen-based contraception might affect vitamin D levels and whether these effects vary across different racial groups [3]. As Dr. Harmon continues to follow this group of women and works on another study investigating how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle, it's clear the debate over this intriguing connection is far from over.
Sources:1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d/faq-200584512. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190424182357.htm3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D#Effects4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047816/
- Women using estrogen-based birth control may have higher levels of vitamin D, a crucial nutrient that helps maintain bone health andabsorbs calcium.
- Discontinuing estrogen-based contraception can lead to significant drops in vitamin D levels, raising concerns for women's health and nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy.
- A study on reproductive health involving African-American women found a link between estrogen-based contraception and higher vitamin D levels, suggesting this association may not be race-specific.
- The study's findings highlight the importance of securing adequate vitamin D levels during conception and pregnancy, as women transitioning off contraception may be at risk of deficiencies.
- In the health-and-wellness and nutritional field, researchers continue to investigate the science behind estrogen-based contraception and its impact on vitamin D levels, particularly across racial groups.
- The ongoing research on vitamin D levels and contraception is crucial for developing women's vitamins, multi vitamins, and women's health supplements that support optimal nutritional needs and cultural health considerations.
