Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension can be significantly reduced with calcium supplements, a study published in ‘Circulation’ journal analyzed. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia pose significant threats to maternal and fetal health, particularly in low-income nations. Mitigating the negative outcomes linked to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy has become a paramount focus in recent years.

Vikash Jaiswal and colleagues examined the link between calcium supplementation and the risk of pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy among expectant females. A thorough systematic literature search in electronic databases was conducted. The inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials featuring pregnant women, with one group receiving calcium supplements and another receiving a placebo. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were computed using a random-effects model. A p-value of <0.05 was statistically significant.

The analysis encompassed 27 studies involving 28,660 patients (14,319 receiving calcium supplements and 14,341 in the placebo group). A 44% reduction was noted in the risk of preeclampsia with calcium supplements compared to placebo (OR, 0.56; 95% CI: 0.45-0.70; P < 0.001) as per the pooled results. Likewise, calcium supplements were related to a momentous 20% decrease in gestational hypertension risk (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.70-0.91; P < 0.001).