Explored connection between vitamin D and contraceptives revealed
Revised Article
Hop on board as we delve into a fascinating study finding a link between estrogen-based birth control pills and the levels of vitamin D in women.
The Sun's Sweet Friend:
Vitamin D, the mate to calcium, regulates the levels of these essential elements in your body. It also aids in the absorption of calcium, which is crucial for your bones and overall health. Foods like fish, eggs, and exposure to sunlight are great sources of vitamin D. However, approximately 90% of our vitamin D production occurs naturally through the body's response to sunshine.
Deficiency Daymares:
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia, resulting in soft and brittle bones—a concern particularly during pregnancy due to the fetus' bone growth requirements.
Vitamin D and Pills:
Intrigued by the possible associations, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, embarked on a study to investigate changes in vitamin D levels relating to oral contraceptives.
Contraception and Vitamin D
Using data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a reproductive health investigation, Dr. Harmon and her team analyzed information from nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 residing in and around Detroit, MI. The research posed questions about contraceptive use and outdoor time, along with any vitamin D supplements consumed.
In total, 1,662 women contributed blood samples for testing 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels—the most prevalent circulating form of vitamin D.
Dr. Harmon's team found that women taking estrogen-containing contraceptives showed higher vitamin D levels compared to the rest. Remarkably, this association remained significant even after adjusting for seasonal exposure to sunlight and other confounding factors.
"Our findings indicate that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, which reportedly drop when contraception is ceased," shared Dr. Harmon. "We couldn't find any notable differences in behavior, such as additional sun exposure, to explain the increase."
A 20% Spike in D:
Adjustments for confounding factors verified that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% higher level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
Current users of birth control displayed elevated vitamin D levels, while past users presented average vitamin D concentrations.
Vitamin D in Early Pregnancy
With these findings published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, women planning conception may face the risk of vitamin D deficiency due to decreased levels when discontinuing birth control. Dr. Harmon advises, "For women transitioning from birth control, ensuring adequate vitamin D levels during this period and throughout pregnancy is advisable."
Why, Oh Why, Estrogen?:
Medical News Today inquired Dr. Harmon about why estrogen-based contraception might impact vitamin D levels. She expressed her thoughts:
"Our current understanding suggests that estrogen's influence on vitamin D metabolism receptors and enzymes contributes to elevated vitamin D availability. Further research is necessary to unravel the precise pathways and mechanisms involved."
The study focused solely on African-American women. Dr. Harmon added, "While the same association has been observed in non-African-American women, this population is statistically more prone to Vitamin D deficiencies. Hence, even minor fluctuations in vitamin D concentrations might have more profound implications."
Dr. Harmon continues to track this cohort of women to further examine this link and has also begun a new study investigating vitamin D variations across the menstrual cycle.
Curious about research demonstrating that higher vitamin D levels could lower cancer risk? Check it out!
- The study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences revealed a connection between estrogen-based birth control pills and the levels of vitamin D in women.
- In the study using data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), it was found that women taking estrogen-containing contraceptives showed higher vitamin D levels compared to the rest.
- Remarkably, the association between contraceptive use and vitamin D levels remained significant even after adjusting for seasonal exposure to sunlight and other confounding factors.
- The research indicated that contraceptives containing estrogen were associated with a 20% higher level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most prevalent circulating form of vitamin D.
- For women transitioning from birth control, ensuring adequate vitamin D levels during this period and throughout pregnancy is advisable, as the study showed that discontinuing birth control could lead to vitamin D deficiency.
- Further research is needed to understand precisely how estrogen-based contraception might impact vitamin D levels and the underlying pathways involved, as outlined by Dr. Harmon.
