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Pregnancy-induced hypertension and low birth weight: the role of calcium
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Insights
Calcium supplementation during pregnancy effectively lowers blood pressure and may reduce the incidence of preeclampsia and prematurity. This highlights calcium
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Growing interest in calcium's role in blood pressure regulation.
- Evidence links calcium and blood pressure, including during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of calcium supplementation on blood pressure during pregnancy.
- To investigate calcium's influence on preeclampsia and prematurity incidence.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiologic investigations, laboratory evaluations, and clinical trials.
- Analysis of calcium supplementation effects on pregnant individuals.
Main Results:
- Calcium supplementation during pregnancy demonstrably lowers blood pressure.
- Potential influence of calcium on preeclampsia incidence and gestational age.
- Observed smooth-muscle relaxation effects may reduce prematurity rates.
Conclusions:
- Calcium supplementation is effective in lowering blood pressure in pregnant individuals.
- Calcium may play a role in mitigating preeclampsia and prematurity.
- Mechanisms may involve parathyroid hormone and renin modulation affecting intracellular calcium and smooth muscle function.
Abstract:
Considerable interest has developed regarding the role of calcium in the regulation of blood pressure. Epidemiologic investigations, laboratory evaluations, and clinical trials all confirm that the relationship between calcium and blood pressure extends to include the pregnant state. On the basis of current information it is clear that calcium supplementation during pregnancy lowers blood pressure. Additionally, the effect of calcium on blood pressure may influence the incidence and/or gestational age of development of preeclampsia. Additionally, the effect on smooth-muscle relaxation detected in calcium-supplemented patients may affect the incidence of prematurity. Although the mechanism for these effects has not been entirely elucidated, calcium supplementation appears to affect circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone and renin, which may modulate intracellular ionized calcium, resulting in the observed effect on smooth-muscle relaxation. This effect may also be responsible for reduced uterine activity and for a lowering of the incidence of prematurity.