Discovered connection between vitamin D and contraception explored
Got a Question About Vitamin D and Birth Control? Let's Take a Look!
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining the perfect balance of calcium and phosphorus in your blood. It's also responsible for helping your body absorb calcium, a vital component of your bones. Interesting fact: food sources like fish and eggs are packed with vitamin D, but the majority of it is produced naturally in your skin as a result of sun exposure.
A study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, focused on women and their vitamin D levels in relation to oral contraceptives.
Vitamin D and Hormonal Contraception - A Closer Look
The study, conducted as part of the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, analyzed data from around 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI. The project explored women's contraceptive use and their exposure to sunlight, as well as any vitamin D supplements they took.
A whopping 1,662 women donated blood samples to determine their levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The results? Women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels compared to other women. In fact, adjustments for confounding variables showed that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
As women start trying to conceive and become pregnant, there's a risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Harmon recommends taking steps to ensure adequate vitamin D levels during this period. At present, more research is being conducted to better understand the relationship between contraceptives, vitamin D, and race.
The Interplay of Hormones, Vitamin D, and Race - A Work in Progress
While the study only looked at African-American women, Dr. Harmon explains that the association between estrogen contraception and vitamin D levels has also been observed in other racial groups. The impact of race on this relationship is not entirely understood, but it's evident that African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient. Therefore, small increases or decreases in vitamin D levels can have a significant impact on their health.
