Exciting findings shed light on the potential connection between vitamin D and contraceptive methods.
Women who use estrogen-based birth control pills may have higher levels of circulating vitamin D in their blood, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Conversely, women who stop taking these contraceptives may experience a significant drop in vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining proper calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, as well as helping the body absorb calcium, an essential component of bones. Foods such as fish and eggs are rich in vitamin D, but around 90% of the vitamin is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight.
The study, led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, analyzed data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), which investigated reproductive health among nearly 1,700 African-American women aged 23-34 living in and around Detroit, MI. The researchers asked the participants about their contraceptive use and whether they took any vitamin D supplements, as well as questions about their outdoor activities.
In total, 1,662 women provided blood samples to determine their levels of the most common circulating form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The study found that women who used contraceptives containing estrogen tended to have higher levels of vitamin D than other women. After adjusting for factors such as seasonal exposure to light, the effect remained significant.
"Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women," said Dr. Harmon. The researchers could not find any behavioral differences, such as increased time spent outdoors, to explain the increase in vitamin D levels.
After adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% higher level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Current users of birth control had higher levels of vitamin D, while past users had average vitamin D levels.
The study's findings could have implications for women who are trying to become pregnant, as they may be at risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D when they stop using birth control. Dr. Harmon advises women who are planning to stop using birth control to take steps to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
The current study focused solely on African-American women, but Dr. Harmon believes the association is not related to race. In the United States, African-American women are more likely to be vitamin D-deficient, so small increases or decreases in their vitamin D concentrations may be more impactful.
Dr. Harmon is continuing to follow the group of women in the study to further investigate the relationship between vitamin D and contraceptives. Additionally, she is working on another group of participants to investigate how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle.
When it comes to vitamin D and contraceptives, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship and its implications for women's health. However, this study provides important insights into the connection between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, particularly in specific populations.
- Women using estrogen-based contraceptive pills may have higher levels of circulating vitamin D, according to a study led by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon.
- Foods rich in vitamin D, such as fish and eggs, offer one source of this nutrient, but approximately 90% of it is produced in the skin through sunlight exposure.
- The study found that women who used contraceptives containing estrogen tended to have higher levels of vitamin D, and this effect remained significant after adjusting for factors like seasonal light exposure.
- After adjusting for confounding variables, the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with a 20% higher level of the most common circulating form of vitamin D.
- Researchers suggest that women who are planning to stop using birth control should take steps to ensure their vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
- The study focused solely on African-American women, but Dr. Harmon believes the association is not related to race, and more research is needed to understand the relationship between vitamin D and contraceptives in other populations.
