Taking birth control pills can lead to a depletion of essential vitamins like folate, B12, and B6 in our bodies. Insufficient levels of these vitamins can have detrimental effects such as anemia, birth defects during pregnancy, depression, and various other serious conditions including dental problems, ocular and many others.
Oral contraceptives (OCs) are a widely used prescription drug among women, starting from their early teenage years. Extensive research has been conducted to understand the physiological changes that occur in women who take OCs. These changes encompass not only general health but also nutritional requirements. Several studies have explored whether women on OCs require different amounts of certain vitamins and minerals. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the significance of investigating the impact of OCs on nutrient needs, highlighting its clinical relevance.
Research has revealed that key nutrient depletions include folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, C, and E, as well as the minerals magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Most studies have focused on comparing the levels of these vitamins and minerals in the blood of women who take OCs versus those who do not. Considering that women on OCs may not always have a cellular nutritional status, lead unhealthy lifestyles, or suffer from malabsorption disorders, healthcare professionals should prioritize the use of appropriate cellular nutritional supplements to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies by a generalized view or ideally a personalized, targeted one for dramatically better results.
Table Of Contents
It is widely known that the presence of the female hormone estrogen accelerates the production of ceruloplasmin, a copper-containing protein. Consequently, women who take contraceptive pills consistently have higher levels of copper in their bodies. Interestingly, any biological condition that raises serum copper levels also increases the demand for vitamin C. Therefore, mental illness, late pregnancy, and the use of contraceptive pills can lead to elevated copper levels, potentially exacerbating depression and disperception in schizophrenic patients who are on the pill. Additionally, animals administered estrogen experience a significant decrease in blood levels of vitamin C. In women, vitamin C levels are at their peak during ovulation and at their lowest during menstruation, suggesting a possible connection between cyclical issues and copper and vitamin C.
Excessive amounts of copper can lead to mental health issues, which are often characterized by intense fears, paranoia, and hallucinations. These elevated copper levels can be attributed to various sources such as drinking water flowing through copper pipes, using copper cookware, taking contraceptive pills, or even having copper IUDs. Additionally, copper imbalance can also be caused by deficiencies in vitamin C or B3. Regardless of the cause, high copper levels result in decreased histamine levels. As histamine levels normalize, the individual with high copper and low histamine also returns to a balanced state. In the upcoming chapter, we will explore the flip side of the coin: the effects of high histamine levels.
In 1957, Dr. Ackerfeldt made a groundbreaking discovery by reporting increased levels of the copper-based enzyme serum oxidase in adults with schizophrenia. This finding was later supported by a study involving 250 individuals with schizophrenia, which also revealed abnormally high levels of ceruloplasmin and oxidase. However, these researchers considered various factors such as diet, liver damage, and chronic infections as potential contributors. At the same time, initial experiments suggested that excitement could lead to higher levels of ceruloplasmin. Interestingly, when normal individuals were given a synthetic hallucinatory drug, their ceruloplasmin levels rose to the same extent as those observed in psychotic schizophrenics. On the other hand, other researchers (Horwitt et al., 1957; Frank and Wurtman, 1958; Scheinberg et al., 1957) were unable to find significant differences in ceruloplasmin oxidase activity between schizophrenic children and adults compared to control subjects.
Dr. Yvonne Hitier, a renowned French researcher, conducted a fascinating study on guinea pigs. Her focus was on the impact of vitamin C deficiency on copper levels in these adorable creatures. As the guinea pigs became deficient in vitamin C, something intriguing happened - their copper levels in the blood serum started to rise steadily. Surprisingly, this rise continued until it reached a staggering 2.5 times higher than the normal level at the time of their unfortunate demise. This discovery uncovers a vicious circle in the relationship between copper and vitamin C. It turns out that high copper levels have the ability to destroy vitamin C. This finding sheds light on why early treatments for mental illness often involved administering large doses of vitamins B3 and C. These powerful vitamins seemed to have a positive impact on patients, potentially due to their ability to counteract the destructive effects of copper. Dr. Hitier's research not only deepens our understanding of the intricate connections between vitamins and minerals but also highlights the potential benefits of targeted vitamin therapy in the field of mental health.
Dental health & contraceptives: females wonder why we have bad dental health?
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology, it has been discovered that women who have opted for the injectable progesterone contraception depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) may experience or develop subpar gingival and periodontal health. The presence of estrogen and progesterone hormones in contraceptives has been associated with heightened inflammation, leading to the deterioration of periodontal tissues, the accumulation of plaque, and the enlargement of the gums.
Ways to counter nutrient loss from birth control
Discover the vital nutrients that your body may be missing out on while taking oral contraceptives. While these five essential vitamins and minerals are commonly depleted by the pill, it's important to note that there are even more that you should be aware of. Keep reading to learn about the importance of magnesium, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin E.
Magnesium: Estrogen therapy, which includes the use of birth control pills, reduces the levels of magnesium in the blood and can raise the chances of experiencing a deficiency in this essential mineral. This is especially worrisome for individuals who already have a low intake of dietary magnesium and are exposed to modern lifestyle factors that deplete magnesium reserves rapidly. These factors encompass inadequate sleep, intense workouts, persistent stress, and excessive consumption of caffeine, sugar, and processed foods.
This is the confusing propaganda that misleads us all
There's no such thing as a "balanced diet" & nutrition isn't merely food. Why is that? It's because we're all individuals. Orthomolecular nutrition is the individualized analysis application of the substances within the food which our bodies often do not obtain enough of and are often blocked by antagonists.
"Nutrition" is far more than merely the trivial concept of food.
Botanists analyze the terrain to help plants prevent and restore cell function. Why not for humans?
What are YOUR individual cell nutritional imbalances?
Zinc: Since 1968, there has been concern about the zinc status of women who use oral contraceptives. It was observed that these women had lower levels of plasma zinc compared to those who did not use this form of contraception. This finding has been confirmed by several studies conducted over the years. Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. It is used as a cofactor for over 300 different enzymes and is present in every cell, organ, bone, tissue, and fluid in our bodies. Zinc is involved in maintaining immune and skin health, supporting reproduction, providing energy, promoting good eyesight, and much more. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 31% of the global population suffers from zinc deficiency.
Folate: After the introduction of oral contraceptives, there were concerns about their potential impact on blood folate levels. Early studies indicated that the consumption of these contraceptives might lead to a reduction in folate levels. However, it is important to note that these studies were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s when the hormonal content of oral contraceptives was significantly higher. This raises the question of whether these findings are still relevant today. To address this question, a more recent systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. The results of this comprehensive study concluded that due to the decrease in blood folate concentrations associated with the use of oral contraceptives, it is crucial for women of childbearing age to continue taking folate supplements while using oral contraceptives.
Vitamin B12: Numerous research studies have discovered that women who use oral contraceptives tend to have lower levels of vitamin B12 compared to those who do not use them. The connection between folate and vitamin B12 metabolism in the body is well-established, but the exact mechanism through which oral contraceptives contribute to low vitamin B12 levels is still not fully understood. It is worth noting that just like low folate levels, having a low maternal B12 status is also considered an independent risk factor for neural tube defects (NTDs).
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, promotes skin health, boosts immune function, and even safeguards your heart. Recent studies have revealed that oral contraceptives can have detrimental effects on vitamin E levels in the body. These contraceptives have been found to increase oxidative stress markers and decrease blood levels of vitamin E. Moreover, research has shown that women taking oral contraceptives experience a significant increase in blood platelet clotting activity, which is directly linked to lower levels of vitamin E. However, there is good news. The same studies have demonstrated that vitamin E supplementation can effectively raise vitamin E levels in the blood and reduce platelet clotting activity. This suggests that the negative effects of oral contraceptives on clotting may be counteracted by taking vitamin E supplements. So, if you're concerned about the impact of oral contraceptives on your health, consider incorporating vitamin E supplements into your routine to restore balance and protect your well-being.
Ultimately you won't know specifically what you need until an individualized analysis like this and others with these results:
