Calcium helps reduce complications during pregnancy

Increasing consumption of calcium during pregnancy can help prevent complications from a dangerous disease called preeclampsia - a sudden hypertension in women, according to a global study.

Dr. Marshall Lindheimer, co-author of the study, said that adding 1.5 grams of calcium to the daily diet 'does not prevent this disease but only reduces its level of danger'. However, it helps reduce mortality in both mothers and babies.

Preeclampsia affects about 9% of pregnant women worldwide, according to Dr. Villar. It can lead to premature birth and force pregnant women to have a caesarean section. If the disease develops into a more serious form - seizures - a woman may be bleeding or lethargic. In the worst case, preeclampsia can cause disability or death to the mother or fetus.

Pregnant women should take 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily (photo: petitsfilous)

In his study, Villar and colleagues assigned about 8,300 women who are receiving medical care in six countries around the world (including Argentina, Egypt, India, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam) and divided into calcium use group and placebo group. Before the study began, all women received less than 600 milligrams of calcium in the diet, which is half of the recommended calcium during pregnancy.

The results showed that the group that increased calcium intake during pregnancy reduced the complications caused by preeclampsia.

The cause of preeclampsia is unknown and there is no way to prevent it. Scientists are continuing to learn about the relationship between calcium and the disease.

As recommended by experts, pregnant women should take 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily, if not getting enough calcium from the diet, it should be supplemented.

WALL VY