The relationship between calcium intake and pregnancy-induced hypertension: up-to-date evidence.

Abstract

In 1980 we pointed to a relationship between calcium intake and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The original epidemiologic observations showed an inverse association between calcium intake and incidence of eclampsia after adjusting by several confounding factors. A series of recent randomized clinical trials have demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure with calcium supplementation in animals, in healthy and mildly hypertensive subjects, and in pregnant women. It is hypothesized that parathyroid hormone plays a role since it is affected by calcium intake and can partially regulate the concentration of free cytosolic ionized calcium, thus triggering smooth muscle contraction. Randomized clinical trials showing a reduction in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension with calcium supplementation have not as yet been published. However, preliminary observations appear to support this hypothesis.

• Authors: J M Belizán, J Villar, J Repke
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 158 Issue 4 Pg. 898-902 (Apr 1988) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3284363 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Calcium, Dietary
• Parathyroid Hormone
• Calcium

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Blood Pressure
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Calcium, Dietary (administration & dosage)
• Eclampsia (epidemiology, metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Male
• Parathyroid Hormone (physiology)
• Pre-Eclampsia (epidemiology, metabolism, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Pregnancy