• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

everywomanover29

Food, Mood and Women's Health – Be your healthiest, look and feel great!

  • Blog
  • About
  • Services
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Media
  • The Book
  • Contact

Oral contraceptives cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, reduce serotonin levels and increase anxiety

February 16, 2018 By Trudy Scott 14 Comments

Oral contraceptives i.e. the birth control pill, cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, thereby reducing serotonin levels and can increase anxiety and depression in susceptible women.

Dr. Daniel Amen sees the association between the birth control pill and anxiety/depression in his practice and shared this when I interviewed him during season 3 of the Anxiety Summit.

Unfortunately, they drop serotonin levels. You’ve got to ask yourself why are 23 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 60 taking antidepressants? In large part, it’s the birth-control pills that are changing the hormones in their brain, the neurotransmitters in their brain. All of a sudden they’re more anxious and they’re more depressed.

Oral contraceptives lower serotonin due to various nutrient depletions and can also impact mood due effects on the progesterone/estrogen ratio.

Drug-induced nutrient depletions, especially vitamin B6

Many medications cause drug-induced nutrient depletions and oral contraceptives do this too. In this 2013 paper, Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements, the authors report:

It has been shown that the key nutrient depletions concern folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E and the minerals magnesium, selenium and zinc.

Zinc, magnesium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6 are all needed for the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and can therefore impact both anxiety and depression, accentuating or precipitating the development of depression (and presumably anxiety too) in susceptible women.

The World Health Organization (WHO) report, Advances in Fertility Regulation, states that:

It has been shown that about 80% of women taking oral contraceptives have abnormal tryptophan metabolism suggestive of relative B6 deficiency.

Many of these same nutrients have a major impact on how women handle stress:

Magnesium and vitamin B6 may be effective in combination in reducing premenstrual stress, and vitamin B6 alone may reduce anxiety effectively in older women. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C may reduce anxiety and mitigate increased blood pressure in response to stress.

Zinc and copper imbalances occur very quickly

In this paper published in 1980, Serum copper and zinc in hormonal contraceptive users, it is reported that

Use of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives resulted in a significant decrease in serum zinc levels within 3 days and an increase in serum copper levels within 10 days.

In users of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives the magnitude and time of occurrence of the decrease in zinc levels and the increase in copper levels was unaltered by chemical composition, dosage, route of administration, and duration of use beyond 3 months.

We know zinc plays a role in the serotonergic system, reducing depression and anxiety.

Zinc and vitamin B6 are also key nutrients for alleviating symptoms of the social anxiety condition called pyroluria.

Lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone

Other mechanisms on how oral contraceptives lower serotonin relate to lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone (i.e. the estradiol and progesterone our bodies make), as well as out of balance progesterone/estrogen ratios leading to negative moods and emotional changes. The decreased prolactin response mentioned in this paper suggests reduced serotonergic activity.

High clinical relevance

The WHO report mentioned in the 2013 paper (mentioned above), states that this topic of nutrient depletions with oral contraceptives has high clinical relevance and should be receiving the attention it deserves.

Unfortunately, the nutrient-depletion with oral contraceptives conversation is not something many of my clients have ever had with their doctors, despite this being old news. The WHO report was published over 40 years ago, in 1975!

I’m particularly concerned about teens starting on birth control at such a young age and starting down this very slippery slope with no awareness of what they are getting into.

My recommendation is to NOT use oral contraceptives because of this increased risk in depression and anxiety. I write about this and FAM as an alternative here.

However, if you (or your daughter or grand-daughter or sister or friend) chooses to use oral contraceptives we need this awareness and you/they will very likely need to address these nutrient deficiencies. 

This awareness is also needed if you are using oral contraceptives (or have used them in the recent past) and have found you’ve needed to continuing using tryptophan or 5-HTP long-term.

And finally, this awareness is needed if you know you have pyroluria and the pyroluria protocol doesn’t seem to be working for you.

Additional Anxiety Resources
Click on each image to learn more

Filed Under: Anxiety Tagged With: anxiety, BCP, birth control pill, depression, Oral contraceptives, pyroluria, serotonin, the pill, vitamin B6, zinc

Trudy Scott

About Trudy Scott

Food Mood Expert Trudy Scott is a certified nutritionist on a mission to educate and empower anxious individuals worldwide about natural solutions for anxiety, stress and emotional eating.

Trudy is the author of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings and host of The Anxiety Summit now in its 6th season and called a “bouquet of hope.”

Trudy is passionate about sharing the powerful food mood connection because she experienced the results first-hand, finding complete resolution of her anxiety and panic attacks.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMeliss says

    February 16, 2018 at 3:17 pm

    Trudy,
    HELP! This is me. I went on the pill Lo Ovral 28 as a young woman 20 and was on it for almost 10 years to avoid having 2 periods a month, or rather about 20 a year. And such PMS and cramps with it all. Now, I am a 56 year old woman with the foggiest thinking and so much anxiety and depression, I feel hardly functionable. I am seeing a ND, but just recently plunged into some kind of eating anxiety and I desperately need your help. I learned about you a couple of years ago from Sean’s Depression Session or one of those and have kept up on you and wish you were somewhere near me. I desperately need your help. I have been on Bio identicals and we thot they may be too high of ratios and so my ND is trying to cut me down, but it is horrid on me and my family. And, this may not even be the problem. Can you please help me? They say I have antibodies to making anti anxiety neurotransmitters and so what does that mean, even. Could you at least contact me back with some encouragement. I am so down and people need me. Thank you for all your help and research.

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      February 16, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      Meliss
      I’m sorry to hear what you’ve been through. Unfortunately many young women are put on the pill because of period issues, PMS, cramps (and often to address acne too) instead of addressing the root cause.

      I’d recommend discussing the amino acids GABA and tryptophan with you ND and considering a trial to help with the anxiety, depression and eating issues while you’re figuring all this out. You’ll find plenty of good information on this here on the blog and in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution”. These actually start to balance the hormones. Of course, addressing low zinc and low vitamin B6 would be key too, assuming they are low.

      I’d need to know more about this “antibodies to making anti anxiety neurotransmitters” before I can comment

      Reply
      • AvatarMeliss says

        February 17, 2018 at 6:03 am

        Trudy,

        This is what he wrote me exactly. but we know that your body has antibodies to the GDA (I
        think this was a typo GAD )enzyme which inhibits your body from making GABA (anti-anxiety neurotransmitter).

        Write now I’m on 300 then mg up 400 this week nightly of 5HTP and if that doesn’t work he was going to take me to tryptophan. I am also trying to come down off lorazepam on which I was way overscripted with a stretch out my hours in between and a homeopathic drop to help my brian and body deal with coming off it. He says something else needs to be producing GABA for me, not me just taking a GABA supplement. I would appreciate hearing from you again on this. I am really struggling, and of course coming down off hormones plus lorazepam is a double whammy to my older and frailer body. ALso, do you know of a way I can get out of this “fight or flight” that I am in? It is why I went on the LORazepam, but am on too much of that. I thank you for any and all help!

  2. AvatarLorraine says

    February 17, 2018 at 6:15 am

    Is this true for HRT used in menopause? I use bio identical estradiol and progesterone, but wonder if the same info holds true as contraceptives,

    Reply
  3. AvatarHope says

    February 20, 2018 at 3:23 am

    Is this true for progesterone only pills as well
    ?

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      May 2, 2018 at 10:47 pm

      Hope
      If it’s synthetic progesterone yes

      Reply
  4. AvatarChristine says

    February 28, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I’ve been following you for a while. I love your blog.
    I have a question. I came across Morley Robbins. Are you familiar with him? He says not to supplement with zinc and to take bioavailable copper. You say the opposite. What is your take on this?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      May 2, 2018 at 10:42 pm

      Christine
      I’m pretty new to bioavailable copper and it’s on my list to dig into as it appears to have some applications for certain individuals. As of now, I’m sticking with the zinc recommendation based on the benefits 1000s and 1000s of clients have experienced.

      Reply
  5. AvatarSarah says

    June 22, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Can you please advise I went on the poisen that is Depo Provera for 2.5 years at my doctors advice saying there was no side effects to this injection. A yr after taking it I starting getting bad anxiety and depression and gastro problems ive turned into a wreck of who I used to be. My injection was due May 30th and I never got it ..it’s now three weeks past and I’ve never felt nausea like it it’s like my body has gone into a pregnancy mode…im fatigued, nauseas, struggling to eat anything, will this be a withdrawal from it?..do you know if there’s anything I can do to get my body into a normal routine again and help the nausea?. I really hope to hear from you.

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      June 30, 2018 at 12:41 am

      Sarah
      I don’t have much experience with Depo Provera but respect the work of Leslie Carol Botha – here is an article on her site https://holyhormones.com/recovering-from-depo-provera-withdrawal-symptoms-explained/ I’d recommend finding a functional medicine practitioner to work with in order to help with hormone balancing

      Reply
  6. AvatarMollie says

    April 28, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    I asked my trusted, open-minded woman OB/GYN about this and she was so confused and concerned about the misinformation. She said our bodies make these vitamins naturally and there is no need to supplement because it is impossible for them to be depleted and then went on to example how vitamins work in our body. She asked me where on Earth I heard this and I sited this article. And FYI, she doesn’t push pills or o.c. birth control.

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      April 30, 2019 at 4:05 am

      Mollie
      I would suggest sharing the article and have her read the references I’ve listed. An open-minded practitioner always has a curious mind and is willing to learn rather than say she is confused and concerned – the research will open her eyes. I would also share this book with her “Beyond the Pill” by Jolene Brighton. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/beyond-the-pill-by-dr-jolene-brighten-my-book-review/

      Reply
  7. AvatarEmily Petersen says

    February 5, 2020 at 6:23 am

    Trudy,
    Thank you so much for writing this. It has given me much clarity into my situation. I recently started taking oral contraceptives about two and a half months ago, and a few weeks into my first pack, I began to experience extreme anxiety and panic, followed by waves of depression and mental fog. This is a very strange and overwhelming change for my as I have struggled with some anxiety and depression in the past, but since adopting a healthier lifestyle have been free of those intense feelings for close to three years (until, again, now, with starting oral contraceptives). I am midway through my third pack and my symptoms have gotten drastically worse, to the point where I am stopping the pill now.
    Do you have any insight on how/when my body will regulate itself back to its normal hormone levels? When I may begin feeling more like myself again?

    Thank you,
    Em

    Reply
    • Trudy ScottTrudy Scott says

      March 3, 2020 at 3:39 am

      Emily
      Good for you for making the connections. It can take awhile and the best is to be addressing any nutritional deficiencies that have been caused. I start my clients on tryptophan and GABA, vitamin B6 and zinc for quick relief. This is a great book for more insights “Beyond the Pill” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/beyond-the-pill-by-dr-jolene-brighten-my-book-review/

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FREE REPORT

9 Great Questions Women Ask about Food, Mood and their Health

You’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to my ezine “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff”

Success! Check your inbox for our email with a download link.

Connect with me

Recent Posts

  • 5-HTP for a calm brain, and a racing mind at night: questions and answers
  • Night eating syndrome: is low serotonin a root cause and is tryptophan a solution?
  • GABA for easing physical anxiety and tension: some questions and answers
  • Tryptophan calms comfort eating, eases self-doubt, reduces uncontrollable late night snacking and results in a lot more peace around food.
  • 5-HTP in Parkinson’s disease: benefits for depression, levodopa-induced motor complications, anxiety and sleep issues

Categories

  • 5-HTP
  • AB575
  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Adrenals
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amino Acids
  • Antianxiety
  • Antianxiety Food Solution
  • Antidepressants
  • Anxiety
  • Anxiety and panic
  • Anxiety Summit 5
  • Anxiety Summit 6
  • Autism
  • Autoimmunity
  • benzodiazapines
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Books
  • Caffeine
  • Cancer
  • Candida
  • Children
  • Cooking equipment
  • Coronavirus/COVID-19
  • Cravings
  • Depression
  • Detoxification
  • Diabetes
  • Diet
  • Drugs
  • EFT/Tapping
  • EMF
  • EMFs
  • Emotional Eating
  • Environment
  • Essential oils
  • Events
  • Exercise
  • Fear of public speaking
  • Fertility and Pregnancy
  • Fish
  • Food
  • Food and mood
  • Functional neurology
  • GABA
  • Gene polymorphisms
  • General Health
  • Giving
  • Giving back
  • Glutamine
  • Gluten
  • GMOs
  • Gratitude
  • Gut health
  • Heart health
  • Histamine
  • Hormone
  • Immune system
  • Inflammation
  • Insomnia
  • Inspiration
  • Introversion
  • Joy and happiness
  • Ketogenic diet
  • Looking awesome
  • Lyme disease and co-infections
  • Medication
  • Mental health
  • Mercury
  • Migraine
  • Mold
  • Movie
  • MTHFR
  • Music
  • NANP
  • Nature
  • Nutritional Psychiatry
  • OCD
  • Oxalates
  • Oxytocin
  • Pain
  • Paleo
  • Parasites
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • People
  • Postpartum
  • PTSD
  • Pyroluria
  • Questionnaires
  • Real whole food
  • Recipes
  • Research
  • serotonin
  • SIBO
  • Sleep
  • Special diets
  • Stress
  • Sugar addiction
  • Sugar and mood
  • Supplements
  • Teens
  • Testimonials
  • Testing
  • The Anxiety Summit
  • The Anxiety Summit 2
  • The Anxiety Summit 3
  • The Anxiety Summit 4
  • Thyroid
  • Thyroid health
  • Toxins
  • Tryptophan
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan/vegetarian
  • Women's health
  • Yoga

Archives

  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • July 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009

Copyright © 2021 Trudy Scott. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Terms of Use | Refund Policy