Can chemicals in plastics lower your vitamin D levels during pregnancy?

What's actually in it

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA, phthalates, parabens, and triclosan are absorbed daily from plastic food containers, personal care products, cleaning supplies, and canned food. During pregnancy, these chemicals compete with the body's normal hormone processes, including how it makes and uses vitamin D.

Vitamin D isn't just about bones. During pregnancy, it supports immune development, brain growth, and calcium transfer to the baby.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int measured EDC biomarkers and vitamin D levels in pregnant women. Women with higher exposure to the EDC mixture had lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the standard marker of vitamin D status.

Phthalates showed the strongest individual association with reduced vitamin D. BPA and triclosan also contributed. When the researchers looked at the chemical mixture effect, the combined impact was greater than any single chemical, suggesting these chemicals work together to suppress vitamin D.

EDCs may lower vitamin D by interfering with the enzymes that convert vitamin D into its active form in the liver and kidneys. They may also compete with vitamin D for binding to transport proteins in the blood.

Pregnant women already face a high risk of vitamin D deficiency. Chemical exposure makes it worse. Reduce EDC exposure by using glass food storage, fragrance-free products, and BPA-free canned goods. Talk to your doctor about vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy.