Explored connection found between vitamin D and contraceptives
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have discovered a link between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels in women. The study found that women taking oral contraceptives containing estrogen had higher levels of circulating vitamin D compared to those not using such contraceptives.
Vitamin D, known for maintaining the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, also aids in the body's absorption of calcium - an essential component of bones. While food sources, such as fish and eggs, provide a considerable amount of vitamin D, around 90% of the nutrient is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, was conducted using data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF) involving nearly 1,700 African-American women residing in Detroit, MI, between the ages of 23 and 34. Participants were questioned about their contraceptive use, amount of time spent outside, and any vitamin D supplements taken. Blood samples were collected, and levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the most common circulating form of vitamin D, were assessed.
According to study author Dr. Quaker E. Harmon, "Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen tended to have higher vitamin D levels than other women." Adjustments for confounding variables, such as seasonal exposure to light, still revealed that contraceptives containing estrogen were associated with approximately 20 percent higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones), making it particularly important during pregnancy. Low vitamin D levels during fetal development can increase the risk of pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
This research highlights the importance of vitamin D levels in women planning pregnancy, as they may become deficient in vitamin D when discontinuing estrogen-based contraceptives. Dr. Harmon recommends ensuring adequate vitamin D levels during this period to support both maternal and fetal health.
A possible explanation behind the increased vitamin D levels in women using estrogen-based contraceptives remains unclear, with further research necessary to understand if estrogen directly changes the metabolism of vitamin D. The study mainly involved African-American women, but Dr. Harmon believes the association is not specific to race in the United States, as similar findings have been observed in non-African-American women as well.
The research team will continue to investigate the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, as well as exploring how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle to gain a better understanding of its role in women's health concerns.
- Researchers have linked estrogen-based contraceptives to higher levels of vitamin D in women, a nutrient vital for maintaining proper calcium and phosphorus balance in the blood and aiding in calcium absorption.
- The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, discovered that women taking contraceptives containing estrogen had about 20% higher levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
- Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are risks associated with vitamin D deficiency during fetal development.
- As estrogen-based contraceptives may cause vitamin D deficiency when discontinued, it's essential for women planning pregnancy to ensure adequate vitamin D levels to support both maternal and fetal health.
- The study's findings suggest that the association between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels may not be specific to race in the United States, as similar discoveries have been made in non-African-American women.
- The research team will continue to investigate the relationship between estrogen-based contraceptives and vitamin D levels, and examine how vitamin D varies across the menstrual cycle to better understand its role in women's health concerns.
