Maternal prenatal dietary potassium, calcium, magnesium, and infant blood pressure

We studied the association between the prenatal diets of 212 mothers assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and the blood pressure of their infants. Prenatal potassium, calcium, and magnesium intakes were measured and adjusted for total caloric intake. Infant blood pressure was measured at 2-3 days and at 1, 6, and 12 months of age by using an ultrasonic-auscultatory device and was adjusted for cuff size, observer, and sleep/activity status, age in days in neonates, and weight at 6 and 12 months. Maternal prenatal potassium intake was inversely related to diastolic pressure at 6 months (r = -0.28, p less than 0.01) and at 12 months (r = -0.30, p less than 0.05). After adjustment for neonatal breast versus formula feeding, maternal prenatal calcium intake was inversely related to systolic blood pressure at 1 month (r = -0.21, p less than 0.01), and to diastolic blood pressure at 6 months (r = -0.27, p less than 0.01) and 12 months (r = -0.24, p less than 0.05). Maternal prenatal magnesium intake was inversely related to 6-month systolic blood pressure (r = -0.20, p less than 0.05). In multivariable models with all three cations, maternal prenatal potassium intake was independently and inversely related to diastolic blood pressure at 6 and 12 months. Maternal prenatal calcium intake was independently related to 1-month systolic and 6-month diastolic blood pressure. Age-specific infant blood pressure differences between the upper and lower quartiles of maternal prenatal cation intakes ranged from 3 to 7 mm Hg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)