title: Calcium in midpregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish reference value for serum calcium concentration and urinary calcium excretion during mid pregnancy and to find out variation of calcium intake in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study conducted in antenatal clinic of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A total of 543 pregnant women with pregnancy period of second trimester were enrolled for the study. Eligible healthy, vegetarian primigravid women provided serum and 24 h urinary samples for determination of serum calcium and urinary calcium excretion. Dietary intake calculated by 3-day recall method. Variation of calcium intake according to various demographic characteristics was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis done with SPSS software. The mean total serum calcium and 24 h urinary calcium and dietary intake of calcium were 8.1+/-1.5 mg/dl (5.1-11.9), 129.56+/-67.08 mg (40.5-400) and 324.37+/-199.47 mg/day (85.71-910.71) respectively. The 95th percentiles for serum calcium were 10.56 mg/dl and urinary calcium excretion was 280.70 mg/24 h. Educational level, monthly income and height were positive correlated with calcium intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study defines the first standard value for calcium status in pregnant second trimester females of northern India. Calcium intake in pregnant females is affected by various demographic characteristics. There is need to change dietary pattern by improving education and socio-economic level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India. ashkumar@eth.net
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meena
authors.forename: Salam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gyaneshwori Devi
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Swaraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002118:Calcium