Effectiveness of Lower-Dose Calcium Supplementation in Preventing Hypertension in Pregnant Women
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on March 8th, 2024
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High blood pressure during pregnancy poses risks to both maternal and fetal health. Since 2011, the World Health Organization has advised calcium supplementation ranging from 1500 mg to 2000 mg to lower the risk of pre-eclampsia. However, the high dosage presents cost constraints and challenges with adherence, particularly in resource-limited settings. Therefore, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded a study to evaluate the efficacy of a reduced calcium dose in preventing hypertension during pregnancy.
The study enrolled 11,000 first-time pregnant women from India and Tanzania, with approximately 65% of participants aged between 18 and 24 years old, and a negligible percentage currently affected by hypertension. These women were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg or 1500 mg of orally administered calcium carbonate. Upon collating data from both countries, the researchers determined that there was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of preeclampsia between the 500 mg and 1500 mg calcium doses. Moreover, the lower dose of calcium was found to be non-inferior to the higher dose in preventing preterm birth. Consequently, the study concluded that lower-dose calcium supplementation is equally effective as the higher-dose regimen, with the added benefit of reduced cost, enhancing implementation feasibility.
The study enrolled 11,000 first-time pregnant women from India and Tanzania, with approximately 65% of participants aged between 18 and 24 years old, and a negligible percentage currently affected by hypertension. These women were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg or 1500 mg of orally administered calcium carbonate. Upon collating data from both countries, the researchers determined that there was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of preeclampsia between the 500 mg and 1500 mg calcium doses. Moreover, the lower dose of calcium was found to be non-inferior to the higher dose in preventing preterm birth. Consequently, the study concluded that lower-dose calcium supplementation is equally effective as the higher-dose regimen, with the added benefit of reduced cost, enhancing implementation feasibility.