Oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, are effective in preventing pregnancy. The hormone-based medications alter the activity of your ovaries to prevent ovulation, to help pervert fertilization and pregnancy. However, taking birth control pills can lead to a number of side effects, including increased risk of blood clots, weight gain, and possible mood disturbances. In addition, birth control pills can deplete the levels of specific vitamins in your body, and taking the pill can potentially cause vitamin deficiencies.
Vitamin B-12
One nutrient that is potentially depleted by birth control pills is vitamin B-12, also called cobalamin. This vitamin acts as a co-factor for enzymes, helping to regulate enzyme function within your cells. It proves important for hemoglobin production, cellular metabolism and even cancer prevention. A range of birth control pills affect your vitamin B-12 levels, because monophasic, biphasic and triphasic contraceptive pills can all deplete vitamin B-12, increasing your risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Riboflavin
Taking birth control pills might also deplete your levels of riboflavin, or vitamin B-2. Your body utilizes this vitamin to help carry out chemical reactions within your cells. Riboflavin contributes to energy production in your tissues, the breakdown of drugs and toxins within your system, and the proper function of your red blood cells. Several types of birth control pills -- including monophasic, biphasic and triphasic pills -- can deplete your vitamin B-2 levels, causing a riboflavin deficiency that can affect the health of your blood.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C -- or ascorbic acid -- represents another vitamin affected by birth control pills. Your body relies on vitamin C to aid in tissue maintainance, and deficiencies in the nutrient can lead to a weakening of your skin, bones, blood vessels and connective tissues. In addition, vitamin C might help prevent some fatal diseases, including cancer. The estrogen in birth control pills can interact with vitamin C, reducing the levels of the vitamin within your bloodstream, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
Considerations
If you take birth control pills, or any other medication, you should talk to your doctor about the potential risks of drug-nutrient interactions to help prevent a vitamin deficiency. You can help to maintain adequate levels of vitamins in your body by following a balanced diet: meats, eggs and other animal-based foods provide vitamin B-12, several fruits and veggies contain vitamin C, and several animal- and plant-based foods contain riboflavin. Vitamin supplements can also help to offset the depleting effects of birth control, so talk to your physician about the potential benefits of taking additional vitamins while you're on birth control.
