Skip to content
womens-health — Multi — Conceive — Fitness-and-exercise — Vitamins — Nutrition — Womensvitamins — Cultural — Health — Deficiencies — Quaker — Science — Osteomalacia — Health-and-wellness — Vitamin — Womens — Nutrient — Endocrinology

Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraceptives revealed

Vitamins D and birth control connexion investigated, revealing potential link

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Estrogen's connection with Vitamin D sparks new inquiries, raising intriguing questions.
Estrogen's connection with Vitamin D sparks new inquiries, raising intriguing questions.

Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraceptives revealed

Sunshine Hormones: Estrogen-Based Contraceptives and Vitamin D Levels

Got a weekend tan? If you're popping those estrogen-based birth control pills, you might be floating around with more vitamin D than your friends. But once you ditch the pills, that D could take a nosedive, according to a recent study.

But first things first — Vitamin D, nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, has a crucial role to play. It helps maintain the correct calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, aiding the body in absorbing this vital bone-boosting mineral. Interestingly, foods like fish and eggs are not the primary sources of this nutrient; instead, around 90 percent of it is generated through a chemical reaction in the skin following sunlight exposure.

Now, why's this info relevant? Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia, softening of the bones, which is why this nutrient's role during pregnancy is significant. A pregnant woman's body needs more of the active form of Vitamin D to support the growth of the baby's skeleton, making them more vulnerable to developing bone problems due to deficiency.

Curious about how contraceptives factor into this picture? Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health took an interest in it. The researcher analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), which studied reproductive health in almost 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI. The study looked at contraceptive use, time spent outside, and vitamin D supplement use, among other factors.

And the results? Women on estrogen-based contraception had significantly higher vitamin D levels compared to others. However, the researchers couldn't find any lifestyle differences, like increased sun exposure, to explain this increase. After adjusting for confounding variables, current users of contraception pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen were associated with a 20 percent higher level of the main circulating form of Vitamin D.

So, if you're planning to conceive or are already pregnant, it's wise to ensure your vitamin D levels are in check. But why does estrogen-based contraception influence vitamin D levels? Well, the exact mechanism isn't clear. Dr. Harmon believes that alterations in Vitamin D metabolism might be at play.

It's worth noting that this study focused solely on African-American women, raising questions about whether race might play a role in this effect. However, Dr. Harmon suggests that this association isn't related to race, as similar findings have been observed in non-African-American women as well.

In conclusion, while the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and Vitamin D levels is complex, long-term use of these hormonal birth control methods might contribute to nutrient depletion, including Vitamin D. Further research is required to understand the mechanisms behind these associations. Keep those sunscreen-free weekends in mind, but don't forget to check those vitamin D levels too!

[1] Vitamin D Metabolism and Regulation: A Comprehensive Review. Nishihira T, et al. Nutrients 2018, 10(7), 899;[2] Effects of long-term use of hormonal contraceptives on nutritional status: a systematic review. Vaziri N, et al. Reproductive Health 2014, 11(1), 18;[5] Association between hormonal contraceptive use and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Ben Hayoun D, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019, 104(6), 2150-2159.

  1. The sunshine vitamin, or Vitamin D, is essential for maintaining correct calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, helping the body absorb vital bone-boosting minerals.
  2. Interestingly, around 90 percent of Vitamin D is generated through a chemical reaction in the skin after sunlight exposure, making it less reliant on food sources like fish and eggs.
  3. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia, softening of the bones, making it significant during pregnancy when a pregnant woman's body needs more of the active form of Vitamin D to support the growth of the baby's skeleton.
  4. A study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF) to explore the relationship between contraceptive use, sun exposure, and vitamin D levels.
  5. The study found that women on estrogen-based contraception had significantly higher vitamin D levels compared to others, despite no apparent lifestyle differences to explain this increase.
  6. This association between estrogen-based contraception and Vitamin D levels might indicate long-term use could contribute to nutrient depletion, including Vitamin D.
  7. It's essential, therefore, for women planning to conceive or already pregnant to ensure their vitamin D levels are in check.
  8. The relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and Vitamin D levels is complex and requires further research to understand the mechanisms behind these associations.
  9. The study, focused on African-American women, raises questions about whether race might play a role in this effect, but similar findings have been observed in non-African-American women as well, suggesting this association isn't related to race.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest