Rise of blood pressure in calcium-deprived pregnant rats.
It has been postulated that calcium uptake is inversely related to blood pressure (BP) in animals and pregnant women. To test this hypothesis, 34 female, 142-day-old Wistar rats were studied prospectively. They were randomly assigned to either a calcium-free diet (16 rats) or a normal diet (18 rats). Weekly measurements of tail systolic BP showed a statistically significant increase in BP in the calcium-free group after 6 weeks of treatment. After 9 weeks on this diet, the animals were mated. Five in the control group and six in the calcium-free group became pregnant. Thereafter, both of these subgroups (pregnant and nonpregnant calcium-free diet) continued with significantly higher BP until they were put to death. Blood samples taken at the end of the study showed significantly lower values of calcium/magnesium (Ca/Mg) ratio, but higher inorganic phosphate in the group consuming a calcium-free diet. Blood pressure during the last 3 weeks of the study was significantly inversely correlated with the blood Ca/Mg ratio and directly correlated with magnesium and inorganic phosphate values. This article supports the hypothesis that a low-calcium diet is associated with high BP in pregnant and nonpregnant female rats.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010710:Phosphates; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium