Connection between vitamin D and contraceptives exploration revealed
Cracking the Link Between Estrogen-Based Birth Control and Vitamin D
Here's a lively take on the intriguing connection between estrogen-based birth control pills and the skin-soaked vitamin D.
What's the big deal about Vitamin D? Well, pal, it's the unsung hero that keeps those calcium and phosphorous levels in your blood dance in sync. It's alsoresponsible for helping your bod absorb the mighty calcium, the building block of bones. Did someone say fish and eggs? That's right, these bad boys are loaded with Vitamin D. But get this – about 90 percent of Vitamin D comes straight from a sun-soaked skin chemical reaction.
But without enough sunshine or Vitamin D-rich food in your diet, you're at risk of developing poky bones, like rickets and osteomalacia (softies, you don't want those). And pregnant mamas? You need to pay extra attention to your Vitamin D levels, because your bones are spawning up a storm!
Enter Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, a smarty pants from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC. With a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge, Dr. Harmon decided it was high time to investigate any links between Vitamin D and oral contraceptives.
So, what's the scoop on Vitamin D and contraception?
First, Dr. Harmon and her crew dug into a Trove of data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF), a project that looks into reproductive health. They sifted through the records of nearly 1,700 African-American ladies aged 23-34, who were living in and around Detroit, MI.
The ladies filled out a sexy questionnaire about their birth control use and shared juicy details like how much time they spent basking in the sun and what kind of Vitamin D supplements they took. In total, 1,662 women volunteered their blood for a critical assessment of their Vitamin D levels.
Now for the juicy bits...
"Our investigation found that mamas who were popping birth control pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen tended to have higher Vitamin D levels than their less fortunate counterparts."
Dr. Quaker E. Harmon
Even after accounting for potential confounding factors like sunbathing time and Vitamin D supplements, the effect persisted!
"We couldn't uncover any behavioral differences like increased sunbathing that could explain the surge in Vitamin D levels," said Dr. Harmon. "Our findings suggest that birth control with estrogen might boost Vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to plummet once a woman stops using the pill, patch, or ring."
To reiterate, current users of birth control owned the Vitamin D level crown, while past users held a steady Vitamin D average. Go figure!
Vitamin D Deficiency in Early Pregnancy
The findings, published this week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, imply that as a woman prepares to embark on the journey of motherhood, she might be at risk of becoming Vitamin D-deficient. Dr. Harmon offers some helpful advice:
"For mamas-to-be who choose to bid adieu to birth control, it'd be smart to take measures to ensure adequate Vitamin D levels while trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy."
Medical News Today put Dr. Harmon in the hot seat with some tricky queries. Her responses are worth a gander:
When probed about why estrogen-based contraception might affect Vitamin D levels, Dr. Harmon said:
"We haven't cracked the reason behind this one yet. Previous studies suggest that the levels of other Vitamin D metabolites might be altered when women use estrogen-containing contraception, hinting at changes in the metabolism of Vitamin D. We've got our eyes peeled for more insights on this front."
Wondering if race plays a role in this effect? Dr. Harmon weighed in:
"The same link has been established in young and older non-African-American women, so it seems like this association has little to do with race. Since African-American women are prone to Vitamin D deficiency in the States, even small fluctuations like the ones we explored may carry significant consequences."
Intrigued by these findings, Dr. Harmon is following the ladies she's been studying to learn more about the intricate relationship between Vitamin D and hormonal contraception. She's also working on another group of participants to uncover patterns in how Vitamin D levels ebb and flow across the menstrual cycle.
So, next time you're catching some sun rays or chowing down on a Vitamin D-rich meal, remember the curious connection with hormonal contraception! Keep your Vitamin D levels game on point, especially if you're planning on becoming a mama – the well-being of your future bones and your baby's will thank you.
[1] Next-generation sequencing analysis of vitamin D-binding protein in healthy postmenopausal women. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2021).
[2] Maternal vitamin D status: implications for maternal and fetal health. Nutrients (2016).
[3] Long-term side effects of combination oral contraceptives on nutrient status and health: a comprehensive review of the literature. Nutrients (2018).
- The investigation by Dr. Quaker E. Harmon and her team revealed that women using estrogen-based birth control, such as pills, patches, or rings, often have higher levels of Vitamin D compared to those who do not.
- The link between estrogen-based contraception and Vitamin D levels persisted even after considering factors like sunbathing time and Vitamin D supplements.
- The study found that Vitamin D levels decreased once a woman stopped using the birth control pill, patch, or ring.
- Women who were currently using birth control were found to have higher Vitamin D levels compared to past users, who maintained a steady average level.
- The findings suggest that expectant mothers may be at risk of Vitamin D deficiency upon discontinuing birth control and during pregnancy, stressing the importance of maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels.
- Dr. Harmon's research indicates that estrogen-based contraception might boost Vitamin D levels; however, the exact reason for this link is yet to be discovered.
- Past studies hint at changes in the metabolism of Vitamin D when women use estrogen-containing contraception, but further research is needed to uncover more insights into this association.
- Future studies will focus on understanding the intricate relationship between Vitamin D and hormonal contraception, and its implications on women's health and osteomalacia, particularly in African-American women who are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency in the United States.
