Unveiled connection between vitamin D and birth control: a surprising discovery
Revised Article:
Estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels
It's no secret that vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining healthy bones and absorbing calcium, an essential component for skeletal growth. Food sources rich in vitamin D include fish and eggs, while about 90% of it is produced naturally through sun exposure.
However, a recent study by researchers from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, found an interesting link between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D and contraception
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project focusing on reproductive health. Using almost 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI, the study asked participants about their contraceptive use, sunlight exposure, and any vitamin D supplements they took.
Blood samples were collected from 1,662 women to measure their levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most common circulating form of vitamin D.
"Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women," said Dr. Harmon. Even after accounting for confounding factors, such as seasonal changes in light exposure, the effect remained significant.
"We could not find any behavioral differences such as increased time spent outdoors to explain the increase," added Dr. Harmon. "Our findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women cease using contraception."
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. Current users of birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while past users had average levels.
Vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy
These findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, highlight the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy. As women stop taking estrogen-based contraception, their vitamin D levels could drop significantly.
"For women who are planning to stop using birth control, it is worth taking steps to ensure that vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy," advised Dr. Harmon.
Dr. Harmon also shared her thoughts on the possible reasons behind the link between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, stating: "We do not know why vitamin D levels are higher. Other work suggests that the levels of other vitamin D metabolites are changed when women use estrogen-containing contraception. This suggests that there may be alterations in the metabolism of vitamin D. Further work is needed."
While the current study focused solely on African-American women, Dr. Harmon noted that the same association has been observed in women of various races. However, African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, so even small changes or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations could have significant implications.
Dr. Harmon is continuing to follow the group of women in this study to further investigate the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels. She is also working on another group of participants to examine how vitamin D varies throughout the menstrual cycle.
Understanding the link between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels could have important implications for women's health, particularly during pregnancy and while trying to conceive. As always, it's essential for women to consult their healthcare providers to discuss their personal health needs and concerns.
References
- Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. The New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266-281.
- Cimsit, A. R., & Hökmöeller, P. (2016). Estrogen receptor alpha modulates calcitriol synthesis and intestinal calcium absorption. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 151, 268-275.
- Heidari, B., & Mousavi, S. (2015). The role of vitamin D deficiency in osteoporosis and its associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: The Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 18(11), 1154-1162.
- The study by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon and her team from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that women using estrogen-based contraceptives tend to have higher vitamin D levels compared to other women.
- The findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen boost vitamin D levels and these levels could drop significantly after ceasing the use of contraception.
- Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels while trying to conceive and during pregnancy is important, particularly for women who plan to stop using birth control.
- The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, highlights the need for further investigation into the connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, as it could have significant implications for women's health.
- Current users of birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while past users had average levels, after adjusting for confounding variables.
- Understanding the link between estrogen-based birth control and vitamin D levels could be crucial for the health and wellness of women, including women's health and nutrition, and it's essential for women to discuss their personal health needs with their healthcare providers.
