OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on blood pressure and maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHOD: A total of 524 healthy primigravidas with a blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg were randomly assigned between the 12th and 25th weeks to receive 2 g of elemental calcium or placebo and were followed-up until delivery. RESULTS: The incidence of pre-eclampsia was significantly less in the calcium than in the placebo group (4.0% vs 12.0%; odds ratio [OR], 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.63); the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures at study completion were different in the calcium and placebo group (P=0.007 and P=0.02). The risk for preterm delivery was less in the calcium (7.0%) than in the placebo (12.7%) group (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.93). The mean baseline calcium intake was 313.83+/-203.25 mg/day (range, 85.71-910.71 mg/day), which is lower than the recommended dietary intake of 1000 mg, and the 24-hour urinary calcium excretion was 130.82+/-67.44 mg/dL (range, 40.5-387 mg/dL). CONCLUSION:Calcium supplementation appears to reduce the occurrence of pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery in primigravidas who have a daily dietary calcium intake less than the recommended dietary allowances.
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OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on blood pressure and maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHOD: A total of 524 healthy primigravidas with a blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg were randomly assigned between the 12th and 25th weeks to receive 2 g of elemental calcium or placebo and were followed-up until delivery. RESULTS: The incidence of pre-eclampsia was significantly less in the calcium than in the placebo group (4.0% vs 12.0%; odds ratio [OR], 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.63); the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures at study completion were different in the calcium and placebo group (P=0.007 and P=0.02). The risk for preterm delivery was less in the calcium (7.0%) than in the placebo (12.7%) group (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.93). The mean baseline calcium intake was 313.83+/-203.25 mg/day (range, 85.71-910.71 mg/day), which is lower than the recommended dietary intake of 1000 mg, and the 24-hour urinary calcium excretion was 130.82+/-67.44 mg/dL (range, 40.5-387 mg/dL). CONCLUSION:Calcium supplementation appears to reduce the occurrence of pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery in primigravidas who have a daily dietary calcium intake less than the recommended dietary allowances.
Authors: Fernando C Barros; Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta; Maneesh Batra; Thomas N Hansen; Cesar G Victora; Craig E Rubens Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2010-02-23 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Esme V Menezes; Mohammad Yawar Yakoob; Tanya Soomro; Rachel A Haws; Gary L Darmstadt; Zulfiqar A Bhutta Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2009-05-07 Impact factor: 3.007