Contraceptives also help keep your bones stronger

Contraceptives are known for keeping women safe from unwanted pregnancies and have helped many developing countries in keeping a check on the population boom. But turns out, contraceptives may also be helping women in maintaining their vitamin D levels.

A recent study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has revealed that women who stop taking contraceptives in order to get pregnant may witness a fall in vitamin D levels in their bodies. The study revolved around the contraceptives with estrogen.

It is quite interesting to note that sunlight is the main source of Vitamin D in our body and a lot of women suffer from its deficiency. Bone health is also directly proportional to the amount of Vitamin D in the body. This sunlight vitamin further plays a vital role in making sure that nutrients including zinc, calcium, phosphate, magnesium and iron are properly absorbed by the intestines in the human body.

Study’s first author Quaker E. Harmon said, “Our study found that women who were using contraception containing estrogen had higher vitamin D levels than other women.” He further added, “We could not find any behavioural differences such as increased time spent outdoors to explain the increase. Our findings suggest that contraceptives containing estrogen tend to boost vitamin D levels, and those levels are likely to fall when women cease using contraception.”

Researchers also analyzed data from several other studies, which included one conducted on 1700 African American women in the age group 23 to 34.

Females were made to answer questions related to contraceptive usage and intake of supplements containing Vitamin D. They were also asked about the amount of time spent in sunlight every day. Overall the researchers found 20 per cent higher Vitamin D linked with the use of contraceptives with estrogen.

Harmon said, “Our findings indicate women may run the risk of developing vitamin D deficiency just when they want to become pregnant. For women planning to cease the use of birth control, must ensure that vitamin D levels are adequate while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.”