Uncovered connection between vitamin D and birth control hormones revealed
Sunshine, Pills, and Vitamin D:
You might be surprised to learn that women who take estrogen-based birth control pills have a higher level of vitamin D in their bodies, compared to those who don't. When women stop using these contraceptives, their vitamin D decreases significantly.
Vitamin D is a superhero keeping your bones solid and healthy. It helps your body absorb calcium, a vital bone component, and maintains the right levels of calcium and phosphorus in your blood. The best sources of vitamin D are fish, eggs, and - drumroll please - the sun! Roughly 90% of our vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure.
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to nasty conditions like rickets (for kids) and osteomalacia (for adults), meaning soft, weak bones. And because vitamin D plays a crucial role in building baby bones, it's essential during pregnancy.
Enticed by this mystery, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, decided to dig deeper. She wondered if oral contraceptives had anything to do with changes in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D and Contraception: A Love Story?
Dr. Harmon examined data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), an investigation focusing on women's reproductive health. The project involved nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34, living in and around Detroit, MI. The study asked women about their birth control habits and their time spent outdoors, as well as any vitamin D supplements they took.
Out of the 1,662 women who provided blood samples to determine their vitamin D levels, those taking estrogen-based birth control had higher levels of the vitamin compared to their colleagues. After adjusting for known factors like sunlight exposure, the association remained significant.
"Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women," explained Dr. Harmon. weirdly, women currently using hormonal birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, and women who previously used birth control had average levels.
Vitamin D Deficiency: An Early Pregnancy Threat
Glad you asked! The researchers determined that when women stop taking hormonal birth control and start trying to get pregnant, they're at risk of developing a deficiency in vitamin D. Dr. Harmon suggests that it's wise for women planning to stop birth control to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate during preconception and pregnancy.
Dr. Harmon couldn't provide the exact reason for estrogen-based contraception's influence on vitamin D levels. She says the link could be due to alterations in vitamin D metabolism, but more research is needed to confirm. The study solely focused on African-American women. However, the same association has been observed in differently raced women, so Dr. Harmon believes this association is not affected by race.
In summary, hormonal birth control containing estrogen can boost your vitamin D levels, and stopping the medication can cause a drop. So, if you're planning to conceive, it's essential to ensure your vitamin D levels are where they should be. Keep the sun shining, and your bones strong!
- Women using estrogen-based birth control typically have higher levels of vitamin D compared to those who do not, according to research.
- In the study of environmental health, it was found that women on contraception containing estrogen had higher vitamin D levels, an association that remains significant even after adjusting for factors such as sunlight exposure.
- Interestingly, women currently using hormonal birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while those who previously used birth control had average levels, as per the study's findings.
- A deficiency in vitamin D can be a threat during early pregnancy, as when women stop taking hormonal birth control, their risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency increases.
- The exact reason for the link between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D levels is unclear, but the study suggests that alterations in vitamin D metabolism may be responsible, emphasizing the need for further research.
