Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraception revealed

Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraceptive methods explored

Vitamin D and Birth Control: An Unexpected Connection

Turns out, the pills you pop for birth control might affect your Vitamin D levels more than you thought. Research has found that women on estrogen-based birth control pills show higher quantities of vitamin D, and if they stop taking these contraceptives, they experience a significant drop in vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D, often dubbed the "sunshine vitamin," plays a vital role in maintaining the correct calcium and phosphorous levels in your blood, and aids in the absorption of calcium, a key component of bones. While foods like fish and eggs are high in vitamin D, around 90 percent of it is produced naturally in the skin through a chemical reaction after exposure to sunlight.

A study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences decided to investigate this link between vitamin D levels and birth control. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a reproductive health investigation involving nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI.

The study asked women about their contraceptive use, including questions about time spent outdoors and any vitamin D supplements they took. In total, 1,662 women provided blood samples to determine levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, known as 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

The study discovered that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women. Even after accounting for confounding factors such as seasonal exposure to light, the effect remained significant.

After adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20 percent increase in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. This means that as women plan to conceive or become pregnant, they may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency if they stop using birth control.

While the study's results are intriguing, the exact reason for this association is still unknown. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels. Furthermore, it is essential to remember that this research focused solely on African-American women, and the relationship may differ for other racial and ethnic groups.

So, if you're planning to start or expand your family, don't forget about maintaining those vitamin D levels! Consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that you have adequate levels of vitamin D while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.

The link between vitamin D levels and birth control is being explored in depth by researchers, including a study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon.
The study found that women on estrogen-based birth control pills have higher levels of vitamin D compared to other women.
A significant drop in vitamin D levels occurs in women when they stop taking estrogen-based birth control, as suggested by the study.
Vitamin D, often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," is essential for maintaining healthy calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, and it aids in calcium absorption, a key component of bones.
The study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, involving nearly 1,700 African-American women.
The study discovered that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20 percent increase in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels.
As women plan to conceive or become pregnant, they may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency if they stop using birth control, according to the study's results.
More research is required to better understand the relationship between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels, and it is unknown if this relationship differs for racial and ethnic groups other than African-American women.