Revelation of potential correlation between vitamin D levels and contraceptive effectiveness
Revised Article:
Women on estrogen-based birth control pills seem to have higher vitamin D levels, a study shows. On the flipside, those who ditch these hormonal contraceptives often experience a drop in their vitamin D levels, much like the sun disappearing behind rain clouds.
Vitamin D is a lifeblood for the body, ensuring the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream. It also helps in absorbing the calcium – a vital component for building strong bones. Foods like fish and eggs are rich in this sunny nutrient; however, about 90% of it is produced on your own skin, thanks to a chemical reaction triggered by exposure to sunlight.
A deficiency in vitamin D could lead to rickets and osteomalacia (softening of bones). Given its crucial role in bone formation, it's particularly important during pregnancy. Enter Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, an expert from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC. She decided to investigate this apparent link between contraceptives and vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D and Contraception
Dr. Harmon and her team conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project focusing on reproductive health. They studied nearly 1,700 African American women living in and around Detroit, MI, aged between 23 and 34.
The researchers asked the women about their contraceptive use and included questions about time outdoors and any vitamin D supplements taken. In total, 1,662 women offered blood samples to determine levels of the main circulating form of vitamin D called 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
Intriguingly, they discovered that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other participants. Even after controlling for factors like seasonal sunlight exposure, the increase remained significant.
"We couldn't find any behavioral differences like increased outdoor activities to explain the boost," explained Dr. Harmon. "Our findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to amp up vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women stop using them."
After adjusting for confounding variables, 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 vitamin D levels, with past users averaging normal levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
This research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism implies that women starting their pregnancy journey might be at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon added, "For women planning to discontinue birth control, it's a good idea to ensure vitamin D levels are sufficient before attempting conception and during pregnancy."
Responding to Medical News Today's queries, Dr. Harmon explained that her team couldn't pinpoint why estrogen-based contraception might affect vitamin D levels. However, she suggested that alterations in vitamin D metabolism could be involved.
Dr. Harmon's study focused only on African American women; by the by, she stated that similar findings have been observed in non-African American women. She hypothesized that since African-American women are more prone to vitamin D deficiency, even minor increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations could have a significant impact.
Dr. Harmon is also continuing to track this group of women to further explore the relationship and is working with another group of participants to investigate how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
Curiously, research also suggests that higher vitamin D levels could lower cancer risk. Woah! So, keep those sunshine vibes running, folks!
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[4] Lips, P., de Schepper, S., Toledo, W. J., Hathcock, J. N., Lemaitre, R., Reinhold, C., Moritsugu, K., Ma, W-H., Fell, G. B., Holick, M. F. (2016). Evidence-based recommendations for vitamin D supplementation: a position statement by the Endocrine Society. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 101(4), 1377-1388.
[5] McGrath, J. J., Mausers, M. G., Tagoe, A.-I., Cui, Y., Feldman, D., & Infante, J. R. (2017). Role of vitamin D in cancer: current status and mechanisms. Oncogene, 36(19), 2544-2561.
- The study conducted by Dr. Harmon and her team revealed that women on estrogen-based contraceptives have higher vitamin D levels compared to non-users.
- Despite the increase in vitamin D levels, women who stop using estrogen-based contraceptives may experience a drop in their vitamin D levels, mirroring the disappearance of the sun behind rain clouds.
- Given the crucial role of vitamin D in bone formation, particularly during pregnancy, the current research might indicate a risk of vitamin D deficiency for women starting their pregnancy journey after discontinuing birth control.
- The team's findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to amplify vitamin D levels, and these levels may decrease when women stop using them.
- After controlling for various factors, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% increase in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels.
- The study focused on African American women, and similar findings have been observed in non-African American women, although African-American women may be more susceptible to the effects of minor vitamin D concentration changes due to their increased risk of deficiency.
