New study reveals potential connection between vitamin D and contraceptive methods
Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have found a connection between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels in women. Women taking such contraceptives have higher quantities of the vitamin in their circulation, while those who stop taking these pills face a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining the right balance of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. It also helps the body absorb calcium, an essential component of bones. Foods such as fish and eggs are rich in vitamin D, while the body produces around 90 percent of it through exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia, characterized by softening of the bones. Given its importance in bone development, it is particularly significant during pregnancy. In response to this discovery, researchers led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon decided to investigate if there were any changes in vitamin D levels associated with taking oral contraceptives.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids. The research used almost 1,700 African-American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged 23-34. The women were asked about their contraceptive use and any vitamin D supplements they took, among other factors.
Blood samples were taken from 1,662 women to measure levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most common circulating form of vitamin D. The findings showed that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women. Even after controlling for confounding factors, such as seasonal exposure to light, the effect remained significant.
Specifically, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Current users of birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while past users had average levels.
These findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women cease using contraception. Although the study focused on African-American women, the association between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D was not exclusively tied to race.
For women planning to stop using birth control, adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy are crucial. Further research is being conducted to better understand the relationship, as well as how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
The connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels underscores the importance of maintaining overall hormonal balance and bone health for affected women. While it is not suggested that estrogen-based contraceptives directly cause vitamin D deficiency, the findings highlight the need for women to monitor their vitamin D levels when using these medications.
- The study indicating a connection between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels revealed that women taking such contraceptives have higher quantities of vitamin D in their circulation.
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences research also found that women who stop taking estrogen- based birth control face a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
- Given its role in maintaining calcium and phosphorous balance, as well as aiding in the absorption of calcium - an essential bone component - vitamin D deficiency can lead to softening of bones, causing conditions like rickets and osteomalacia.
- The significance of these findings extends to women's health-and-wellness and nutrition, as the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids revealed that contraceptives containing estrogen were associated with 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
- This study, focusing on African-American women, demonstrated that the association between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D was not exclusive to race, but may require further investigation across different cultural backgrounds and menstrual cycles.
- It is important for women planning to stop using birth control, especially during pregnancy, to maintain adequate vitamin D levels to support their overall hormonal balance, bone health, and prevent potential deficiencies associated with the removal of estrogen-based contraceptives.
