Esmat Babadizavandy, Ghodsih Seyyedi Alavi, Masomeh Cordi,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-1998)
Abstract
The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the effect of calcium
supplementation in the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (gestational
hypertension and pre-eclampsia) in nulliparous and high risk women. 300 pregnant
women in the 24th week of gestation at the beginning of the study were entered into
a double-blind randomized trial. 143 of them who had a positive roll-over test and
hypocalciuria at the 28-32nd week of gestation were enrolled for the study.
Subjects were assigned to receive 2 g per day of elemental calcium (52
women) or placebo (61 women) from the 28-32nd week of pregnancy until
delivery. Results showed that 11.4% of calcium-treated subjects developed
gestational hypertension, compared to 31.2% of the placebo group. The rate of
hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was also higher in the placebo group (35.6%
vs 11.4%, p<0.01).
