Calcium supplementation reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension in an Andes population.
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.
López-Jaramillo
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Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Metabolismo y Nutricion, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador.
Narváez
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Weigel
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RM
Yépez
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R
D000293:Adolescent; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D005942:Gluconates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D005942:Gluconates; D002125:Calcium Gluconate; D002118:Calcium