Calcium supplementation reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension in an Andes population.

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that increased dietary calcium is associated with a decreased occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension. In this study 106 young healthy nulliparous women, residing in Quito, Ecuador, were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. From 24 weeks gestation until delivery they received either 2 g of elemental calcium per day or a placebo. Calcium supplementation was associated with a significantly decreased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, with 4.1% developing pregnancy-induced hypertension in the treatment group versus 27.9% in the placebo group. Treatment was associated with a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over the course of pregnancy. In addition, there was a small but significant increase in serum ionized calcium levels in the calcium-supplemented group during the treatment period.

• Authors: P López-Jaramillo, M Narváez, R M Weigel, R Yépez
• Journal: British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology (Br J Obstet Gynaecol) Vol. 96 Issue 6 Pg. 648-55 (Jun 1989) ISSN: 0306-5456 [Print] England
• PMID: 2679864 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Gluconates
• Calcium Gluconate
• Calcium

Topics

• Adolescent
• Calcium (blood)
• Calcium Gluconate (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Ecuador
• Female
• Gluconates (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hypertension (prevention & control)
• Parity
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular (prevention & control)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic