Vitamin D's hidden connection to birth control methods revealed
Ladies on Birth Control May Have Higher Vitamin D Levels
It's a fascinating find — women on estrogen-based birth control pills often have higher amounts of vitamin D circulating in their body. Conversely, those who stop using these contraceptives might experience a significant drop in their vitamin D levels.
Why does this matter? Well, vitamin D is crucial for maintaining the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in your blood, and it assists your body in absorbing calcium, which is a vital component of bones. While food sources such as fish and eggs are rich in vitamin D, around 90% of it is produced naturally in the skin after exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause issues like rickets and osteomalacia, which softens your bones. Given vitamin D's role in bone formation, it's particularly vital during pregnancy. So, what's the link between birth control and your vitamin D levels?
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences decided to investigate this connection. They conducted a study using nearly 1,700 African-American women aged between 23 and 34 living in and around Detroit, MI. The study gathered data on contraceptive use, time spent outdoors, and vitamin D supplements taken.
The researchers found that women using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels compared to others. After factoring in potential confounding variables, they concluded that the use of contraceptive pills, patches, or rings containing estrogen was associated with 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
As you plan to become pregnant, keep in mind that stopping birth control may increase your risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, the lead researcher, recommends ensuring adequate vitamin D levels during this critical period.
While the study only examined African-American women, Dr. Harmon believes the association is not related to race. In the U.S., African-American women are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency, so even small changes in vitamin D concentrations can have significant implications.
Further studies are underway to explore this relationship and delve deeper into how vitamin D levels vary across the menstrual cycle. By understanding these connections, we can better advise women on how to maintain optimal vitamin D levels during contraception and pregnancy.
P.S. Don't forget that higher vitamin D levels can potentially lower your risk of cancer — so get outside and soak up some sunlight whenever you can! 🌞
- The link between birth control and vitamin D levels suggests that women on estrogen-based contraceptives might have higher vitamin D levels compared to those who are not.
- Despite food sources such as fish and eggs having vitamin D, around 90% of it is produced naturally in the skin after exposure to sunlight, making sunlight essential for adequate vitamin D production.
- Vitamin D deficiency can lead to health issues like rickets and osteomalacia, which softens bones, making it particularly important during pregnancy.
- Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, the lead researcher of the study, recommends ensuring adequate vitamin D levels, especially during the critical period of pregnancy after stopping birth control.
- The study on African-American women found that women using contraception containing estrogen had 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D; this association might not be related to race, but African-American women are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.
- Future studies are planned to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and the menstrual cycle, aiming to better advise women on maintaining optimal vitamin D levels during contraception and pregnancy for women's health and wellness, ensuring proper nutrition for overall nutrient science.
