Abstract
We investigated the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on vitamin B12 serum in Saudi Arabian and non-Saudi Arabian adult women in this retrospective cohort study. Prior studies suggested that using hormonal contraceptives may lower B12 levels. Still, the therapeutic significance of this finding remains unknown. This study involved 752 adult women who were followed up at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center from February 2022 to November 2023. Contraceptive users had smaller median increases in B12 serum than non-users, even though there was no statistically significant difference in their levels at the end of follow-up. According to the study, women in general good health do not appear to have a substantial change in their B12 levels when using hormonal contraceptives. These results confirm the current global evidence that any decrease will often be slight and clinically insignificant. These findings underscore the importance of environment-specific research and offer valuable insights into the health of Saudi Arabian women.
Purpose:
In Saudi Arabia, where dietary and cultural norms may affect contraceptive practices and baseline vitamin status, this study aims to assess the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on serum vitamin B12 levels in adult women, especially those who receive medical care.
752 women aged 18 and older who had been using hormonal contraceptives for at least three months were included in this retrospective cohort study from February 2022 to November 2023. Our team collected the information from family medicine clinics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients with pre-existing B12 deficits, disorders impacting B12 metabolism, or certain chronic diseases were excluded. We considered clinical and demographic factors and checked baseline and follow-up levels of folate, vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid, and vitamin B6.
Results:
A total of 752 women participated in this trial, 299 of whom (39%) used hormonal contraception, mainly oral contraceptives. While users and non-users had higher levels of B12 following a follow-up, the median increase for non-users was marginally greater (36 vs. 25 units). However, there were no statistically significant differences (p = 0.262). There was a statistically significant decrease in B12 levels among those who used contraceptives for contraception(p=0.028). Other comparisons showed no discernible changes. Overall, the relationship between vitamin B12 level and the usage of contraceptives is not clinically significant.
Conclusion:
Using hormonal contraceptive medications does not significantly correlate with reduced B12 levels in Saudi Arabian adult women. B12 levels were somewhat lower in several subgroups, but these differences were inconsistent or clinically insignificant. This result supports various worldwide studies concluding that hormonal contraceptives may modify B12 metabolism without resulting in a functional deficit. Furthermore, a longitudinal study of multiple populations is necessary to ascertain possible long-term impact.