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Effect of calcium supplementation on blood pressure in children
M W Gillman1, M Y Hood, L L Moore
1Evans Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Calcium supplementation may lower blood pressure in children. This effect is more pronounced in children with lower baseline calcium intake, suggesting a potential dietary intervention for pediatric hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Cardiovascular Health in Children
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure in children is a growing public health concern.
- Dietary factors, including calcium intake, play a role in blood pressure regulation.
- Understanding the impact of calcium supplementation is crucial for pediatric health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of daily calcium supplementation on blood pressure levels in school-aged children.
- To determine if baseline calcium intake influences the blood pressure response to supplementation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial involving 101 fifth-grade students.
- Participants received daily juice beverages with or without 600 mg of calcium (as calcium citrate malate) for 12 weeks.
- Blood pressure was measured at baseline and follow-up, with analysis using multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- Systolic blood pressure increased less in the calcium intervention group (1.0 mm Hg) compared to the placebo group (2.8 mm Hg), with an effect estimate of -1.8 mm Hg.
- The blood pressure-lowering effect was more significant in children with lower baseline calcium intake (p for trend = 0.009).
- No significant effect was observed on diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Calcium supplementation shows a potential blood pressure-lowering effect in children.
- The benefits of calcium supplementation appear most significant for children with inadequate baseline calcium consumption.
- These findings support calcium-rich dietary strategies for managing blood pressure in pediatric populations.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of calcium supplementation on blood pressure in children.
Design:
Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.
Setting And Participants:
One hundred one fifth-grade students in one inner-city school.
Intervention:
Each child consumed 480 ml of juice beverages, containing either no calcium or 600 mg calcium (as calcium citrate malate) daily for 12 weeks.
Measurements:
At baseline we obtained nutrient data from three sets of 2-day food records on each subject. We measured blood pressure four times on each of three weekly sittings at baseline and at follow-up. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we compared mean blood pressure change in the intervention group with that in the placebo group.
Results:
There were 50 girls and 51 boys; 61 subjects were black. At baseline, mean age was 11.0 years, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 101.7 and 57.7 mm Hg, daily total energy intake was 1966 kcal, and calcium intake was 827 mg. With control for age, height, hours of television watched, and baseline blood pressure, systolic blood pressure increased 1.0 mm Hg in the intervention group and 2.8 mm Hg in the placebo group (effect estimate = -1.8 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval -4.0, 0.3). In black subjects the intervention effect estimate was -2.0 mm Hg (95% confidence interval -4.4, 0.4). From lowest to highest quartile of baseline calcium intake (per 1000 kcal), the intervention effect estimates were -3.5, -2.8, -1.3, and 0.0 mm Hg (p for trend = 0.009). There was little effect on diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusion:
These data suggest a blood pressure-lowering effect of calcium supplementation in children, especially in subjects with low baseline calcium intake.
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