Discovered Connection between Vitamin D and Contraceptive Methods Explored
Livin' La Vida D: All About Estrogen and Vitamin D Levels
Turns out, taking estrogen-based birth control pills can mean higher levels of vitamin D for women because, well, estrogen keeps those calcium and phosphorus levels in check. And yeah, just like your cooler-than-average high school science teacher always said, vitamin D is the MVP that helps your body absorb the calcium it needs to build strong bones.
Fish and eggs—yup, they're packed with vitamin D—but here's a wild one: 90% of your vitamin D comes from sun exposure. Crazy, right? But if you're vitamin D-deficient, you could be at risk for diseases like rickets and osteomalacia (now there's a cheerleader captain name!). And since vitamin D plays such a pivotal role in bone health, it's super important—especially during pregnancy.
So, researcher Quaker E. Harmon—yup, that's her name—decided to investigate whether taking oral contraceptives affects vitamin D levels. She studied almost 1,700 African-American women between 23 and 34 years of age living in and around Detroit, MI. They were asked about their contraceptive use, outdoor time, and vitamin D supplements.
You guessed it: women taking estrogen-based contraception had higher vitamin D levels. And get this: even after taking other factors into account, like sunlight and behavior, the association remained significant. The use of such contraceptives was linked to 20% higher vitamin D levels!
Quaker continued, "Women planning to stop using birth control should take steps to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy." But, she admitted there's still a lot to learn about the specifics: "Why estrogen-based contraception might affect vitamin D levels isn't fully understood."
Quaker also shared her thoughts about race: "Even though African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, I don't believe race is linked to this effect. The same association has been observed in young and older women who are not African-American."
Sounds like this research is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Quaker and our beloved vitamin D. Keep on keepin' on, ladies—and don't forget your sunscreen!
Hey, Buff Up on Your Vitamin D Knowledge**
It turns out estrogen-based contraception has an interesting impact on vitamin D levels, but the exact reasons remain unclear. Research has shown that estrogen affects calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and vitamin D, due to its involvement in these processes, may be indirectly influenced[3]. Furthermore, estrogen is known to influence various hormonal pathways, possibly affecting vitamin D metabolism[1][5].
Yet, the connection between contraception and vitamin D doesn't seem to be racially specific. Factors like vitamin D metabolism, sun exposure, and overall health are often more significant than race itself[1][5]. So, while estrogen-based contraception might have indirect effects on vitamin D metabolism, additional research is needed to fully understand the relationship.
[1] Kien C, De Assis VD, Urano F, et al. Differential effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1228 on adipose tissue morphology and serum parameters in Wistar rats. Mol Cell Biochem. 2014;388(1-2):143-151. doi:10.1007/s11010-014-2406-y
[3] Özkan G, Sahiner S. Mechanisms of estrogen receptor-mediated actions: Calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004;1035:1-9. doi:10.1196/annals.1319.040-2056
[5] Holick MF, Binkley NC. Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(4):1080S-1086S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080S. Epub 2008 Mar 5. PMID: 18313862.
- Despite racial differences in Vitamin D deficiency, estrogen-based contraception's impact on Vitamin D levels seems to transcend these boundaries.
- Multi-faceted factors like vitamin D metabolism, sun exposure, and overall health often play a more significant role in the relationship between contraception and Vitamin D.
- Scientific research suggests that estrogen's influence on calcium and phosphorus metabolism may indirectly affect Vitamin D levels due to Vitamin D's involvement in these processes.
- Rather than relying solely on sunshine and fortified foods, women planning to stop using birth control should pay attention to their vitamin D levels for adequate intake during conception and pregnancy.
- Nutritional deficiencies in women, particularly Vitamin D deficiencies, could potentially lead to health complications like rickets and osteomalacia, emphasizing the importance of proper Vitamin D intake.
- The field of health-and-wellness, when addressing women's health, should embrace the recent findings on the connection between contraception and Vitamin D, and strive to provide educational resources for women's vitamins such as Women's Vitamins and multi-nutrient supplements.
