Dietary and serum calcium in pregnant women

Dietary and serum calcium were estimated in 200 normal pregnant women between 37-41 weeks of gestation and in cord blood of their new born. Calcium intake per person per day was low, 11.8mmol/L, as compared with the daily recommended allowance of 30 mmol/L. Mean maternal serum calcium level was also low (1.9 mmol/L) and only 20% of mothers had serum calcium within normal range. Mean calcium value in cord blood was at lower limit of normal range, being 2.3 mmol/L; 38.5% of cord samples (77) were below the normal range.