The relationship between calcium intake and pregnancy-induced hypertension: Up-to-date evidence

JoséM M. Belizán, José Villar, John Repke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

173 Scopus citations

Abstract

In 1980 we pointed to a relationship between calcium intake and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The original epidemiologic observations showed an inverse association between calcium intake and incidence of eclampsia after adjusting by several confounding factors. A series of recent randomized clinical trials have demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure with calcium supplementation in animals, in healthy and mildly hypertensive subjects, and in pregnant women. It is hypothesized that parathyroid hormone plays a role since it is affected by calcium intake and can partially regulate the concentration of free cytosolic ionized calcium, thus triggering smooth muscle contraction. Randomized clinical trials showing a reduction in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension with calcium supplementation have not as yet been published. However, preliminary observations appear to support this hypothsis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)898-902
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume158
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1988

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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