New findings suggest a possible connection between vitamin D levels and birth control methods.
Shedding Light on the Connection Between Vitamin D and Contraceptives
Step into the world of science as we delve into the intriguing relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels. While some studies suggest a connection, the evidence is not always concrete.
Vitamin D, the superhero of bone health, keeps calcium and phosphorus in check, aids Calcium absorption, and fortifies bones [1]. This vital nutrient can be found in foods like fish and eggs, but approximately 90% of Vitamin D is naturally produced thanks to sunlight exposure [2]. Deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to rickets and osteomalacia, softening of the bones, making it crucial, especially during pregnancy [3].
Intrigued by this interplay, Dr. Quaker E. Harmon from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, decided to explore any associations between taking oral contraceptives and vitamin D levels in women.
The Connection Unveiled
Dr. Harmon and her team conducted a cross-sectional analysis on data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a reproductive health study involving 1,700 African-American women, aged 23-34, living in and around Detroit, MI [4]. The participants were asked about their contraceptive use, time spent outside, and vitamin D supplements they may have taken.
Overall, 1,662 women provided blood samples for vitamin D level measurements. The study found that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than others [5].
However, the question remains: why does estrogen-based contraception impact vitamin D levels? Current data does not strongly support a direct effect on serum vitamin D concentrations. Instead, estrogen might influence vitamin D metabolism or tissue distribution, but more research is needed [6,7].
Implications for Pregnancy
As a woman begins trying to conceive, she may face a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency because pregnant women produce increased levels of the active form of vitamin D to support fetal bone growth [8]. Women planning to stop using birth control are advised to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy [9].
The findings of this study indicate that the relationship between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D levels is subtle and may vary across different racial groups. However, more research is needed to fully understand this relationship. Additionally, Dr. Harmon continues to follow the study participants to further investigate the relationship between contraception and vitamin D levels and is working on another group of participants to explore how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle [10].
Stay tuned as science continues to unravel the fascinating interplay between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, shedding light on the potential implications for women's health.
[1] National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D - fact sheet for consumers. [https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/]
[2] National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D - health professional fact sheet. [https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/]
[3] Mayo Clinic. Vitamin D deficiency. [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitamin-d-deficiency/symptoms-causes/syc-20356433]
[4] Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap/cgi-bin/DisableGenomeViewer?gid=5986]
[5] NIH News in Health. Why oral contraceptives might raise vitamin D levels. [https://newsinhealth.NIH.gov/2016/03/oral-contraceptives-raise-vitamin-d-levels]
[6] Gong, S. W., et al. The relationships among circulating vitamin D, sex hormone, and the vitamin D-binding protein Tang, Y. S., et al. (2013). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(3), E509-E515.
[7] Ross, A. C., et al. The Endocrine Society's 2011 Recommendations for Preventing and Treating Vitamin D Deficiency: What Clinicians Need to Know. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 97(4), 1039-1045
[8] Mayo Clinic. Vitamin D deficiency. [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitamin-d-deficiency/symptoms-causes/syc-20356433]
[9] NIH News in Health. Why oral contraceptives might raise vitamin D levels. [https://newsinhealth.NIH.gov/2016/03/oral-contraceptives-raise-vitamin-d-levels]
[10] NIH News in Health. Why oral contraceptives might raise vitamin D levels. [https://newsinhealth.NIH.gov/2016/03/oral-contraceptives-raise-vitamin-d-levels]
- The study led by Dr. Harmon revealed that women using estrogen-based contraception often exhibit higher levels of vitamin D, a crucial nutrient known for its role in bone health and calcium absorption.
- This intriguing connection between contraceptives and vitamin D levels may have implications for women's health and nutritional requirements, particularly during pregnancy.
- As the active form of vitamin D plays a significant role in fetal bone growth, women planning to conceive or those already pregnant should ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate to minimize deficiencies.
- The study's findings suggest that the relationship between estrogen-based contraception and vitamin D levels may vary across racial groups, highlighting the need for more diverse research in the field of women's health and nutrition.
- To further explore this connection, Dr. Harmon continues to investigate the relationship between contraception and vitamin D levels in her study participants and is working on a new group to study the variations across the menstrual cycle.
- As science delves deeper into understanding the connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, it promises to shed light on potential implications for women's health-and-wellness, particularly in the area of women's vitamins and multivitamins supplementation.
