When sweet pills taste bad

Oral contraceptives have changed the lives of many women. Autonomy and control over their own life contributed a lot – women’s position in our society, the working world, and private life have improved significantly during the last 50 years. But as always, where there is light, there is also shadow. However, the use of “the pill” can also trigger side effects – just like is the case with all medicinal interventions. The heightened thrombosis risk is well-known. Now, new data show that women who use the pill also suffer from depression more often.

In the framework of a national prospective cohort study, Danish researchers compared the psychiatric data of 1.061.997 women with the use of oral contraceptives. These researchers were able to prove that the use of the pill is positively associated with the subsequent use of anti-depressants as well as with the first occurrence of a diagnosed depression. This relation was especially distinct in the group of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.

This does not prove a necessary causal relation. The Danish researchers also emphasize this explicitly – it seems that they do not want to tread on the toes of the profitable (and powerful) pharmaceutical industry. However, we also know that women who use oral contraceptives often suffer from a deficiency in vitamin B₆ and folic acid – two substances that play a key role in serotonin metabolism. Those who suffer from a predisposition can develop a depressive mood caused by these deficiencies. 

A logical consequence of these findings would be to fortify relevant preparations with folic acid and vitamin B_6. Understandably, manufacturers avoid the processes for market authorization this would entail. Also, this would be the confession that “the pill” does not only taste sweet but can only be bad. As long as these manufacturers do not act, it is up to us to offer solutions and clarify the situation. For this reason, Biogena produces PilloVit B₆®. In the framework of an intervention study with PilloVit B₆®, we were able to prove that psychic well-being improved significantly using this micronutrient combination. Little daily effort, big impact.

Here you find the Danish study