Calcium and pregnancy:
Calcium, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure: An overview of systematic reviews was performed by Kulier R et al on nutritional interventions during pregnancy and their impact on maternal outcomes of pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. It was found that calcium supplementation for women at high risk of pregnancy hypertension reduced the rate of high blood pressure by 65% and pre-eclampsia by 78%. In women with low dietary calcium intake, supplementation was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of high blood pressure by 51% and pre-eclampsia by 68%. The benefits of calcium supplementation were small in women with low risk of pregnancy hypertension or who had enough calcium intake. Additionally, iron and folate supplementation reduced the rate of low pre-delivery hemoglobin. On the basis of this review, routine calcium supplementation for pregnant women at low risk for hypertension or with adequate calcium is not recommended. In areas where nutritional anemia is prevalent, routine iron/folate supplementation programs for all pregnant women should be introduced. (16)