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| |  CHBPR: Calcium Supplementation Does Not Reduce Risk of Preeclampsiav By W. A. Thomasson Special to DG News CHICAGO, IL -- September 26, 2001 - Calcium supplementation during pregnancy does not prevent superimposed preeclampsia in women with chronic hypertension. Calcium supplementation also does not improve pregnancy outcome in these women, report researchers speaking yesterday (September 25) at the annual meeting of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, in Chicago, Illinois. The researchers found, however, that low dietary intake of calcium may contribute to the development of preeclampsia. The study, reported by Phyllis August, MD, and colleagues at Cornell University in New York City and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, was the first large-scale, double-blind study of calcium supplementation in women who are at high risk for preeclampsia. Dr. August noted, a previous study in low-risk women had likewise failed to show any effect of calcium supplementation. The study enrolled 116 pregnant women with chronic hypertension. Supplementation with calcium 2 g/day or placebo was begun at 13 weeks of gestation. Overall, 27.8 percent of patients developed proteinuric preeclampsia and another 7.6 percent developed accelerated hypertension with features of preeclampsia. For the two conditions combined, incidence was essentially identical in the supplementation (34 percent) and placebo (33 percent) groups. Dr. August noted, “There was absolutely no effect of calcium on the time to development of preeclampsia.” Subanalysis by race and parity likewise revealed no difference between the two treatments. The researchers also looked at risk factors that predicted development of preeclampsia, finding that only a previous history of preeclampsia and systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg at approximately 20 weeks of gestation were significant. Both risk factors also shortened the time to development of preeclampsia. Analysis of potential biochemical risk factors showed that serum uric acid, serum parathyroid hormone, and intracellular free calcium were higher at 20 weeks’ gestation in women who went on to develop preeclampsia than in those who did not. An attempt was made to obtain three-day dietary records at study entrance, but only about a third of the patients complied. Among this group, there was no difference in dietary calcium intake between treatment groups, but - as seen in other trials - intake was lower in women who went on to develop preeclampsia. Why dietary intake would make a difference while supplementation does not remains unclear. Nevertheless, it now seems beyond question that calcium supplementation plays no useful role in preventing preeclampsia, regardless of the woman’s level of risk.
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