Uncovered link between vitamin D and contraceptive measures holds intrigue
Taking Estrogen-Based Birth Control Pills Can Boost Your Vitamin D Levels:
Drawing from a study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it's been found that women using estrogen-based birth control pills tend to have higher levels of circulating vitamin D. Conversely, those who stop taking these contraceptives may experience a drop in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining the right balance of calcium and phosphorus in your blood, and aids in calcium absorption, essential for bone growth. Rich sources of vitamin D can be found in fish, eggs, and sunlight. Yet, about 90% of our vitamin D comes from the skin's chemical reaction to sunlight exposure.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones). Given vitamin D's importance in bone formation, it's especially crucial during pregnancy.
To investigate the links between vitamin D levels and contraception, Dr. Harmon and her team analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF). This research project involved nearly 1,700 African-American women living in Detroit, MI, aged 23-34. The study asked participants about their contraceptive use, time spent outside, and vitamin D supplements.
Blood samples were taken from 1,662 women to assess their 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels—the most common circulating form of vitamin D. The findings revealed that women using contraception containing estrogen had higher levels of vitamin D, both past and current users.
Adjusting for confounding variables indicated a 20% increase in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels for women using estrogen-based contraceptive pills, patches, or rings.
This study offers advice to women planning to stop their birth control, "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."
However, Dr. Harmon notes that more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms connecting estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels. Additionally, it's unclear if race plays a role in this association or if estrogen-containing contraceptives specifically affect vitamin D-binding protein changes.
Intriguingly, this isn't the first research to suggest a link between hormones and vitamin D levels. Estrogen and vitamin D are both crucial for bone health, and hormonal interactions affect protein bindings in the body, influencing various parts of our bodily functions.
Implications for Cancer Risk:Some research also suggests that higher vitamin D levels may lower cancer risk4. Given the connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, further exploration into the potential benefits and risks of these contraceptive methods is warranted.
- Supplementing with women's multi-vitamins containing vitamin D may be beneficial for women who have stopped using estrogen-based birth control and are experiencing a drop in their vitamin D levels.
- The science of health-and-wellness suggests that maintaining optimal levels of nutrients like vitamin D is crucial for overall women's health, particularly in areas such as bone growth and contraception use.
- African-American women, as part of a cultural emphasis on nutrition and women's health, may want to consider monitoring their vitamin D levels and potentially taking supplements if they stop using estrogen-based contraceptives.
- Deficiencies in vitamin D can lead to a variety of health issues, including rickets, osteomalacia, and even increased cancer risk. Therefore, it's essential to ensure adequate vitamin D intake, especially during pregnancy.
- This research on estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels opens up intriguing possibilities regarding the role of science and nutrition in women's health and contraceptive choices.
- As more research uncovers the links between hormones, vitamin D levels, and cancer risk, the health-and-wellness industry may need to update its approach to women's vitamins and supplements, to better support holistic women's health and wellness.
