Calcium supplementation in pregnancy and prevention of hypertensive disorders in elderly women

Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and neonatal death and morbidity. Elderly women are at high risk for this complication. This study assesses the effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on preeclampsia in women aged over 35. Singleton healthy pregnant women over 35 with a normal blood pressure were randomly assigned to receive 1000 mg/day of elemental calcium or placebo between the 18th and 20th weeks. From 89 women recruited in this study, 5 women in the calcium group and 4 women in the placebo group were excluded during the treatment as it was not possible to follow up their status. Finally, 80 women completed this study and were followed up until delivery. The incidence of preeclampsia was assessed in these 80 women (40 women in placebo and 40 women in the calcium group). The incidence of preeclampsia was significantly lower in the calcium group (15%) than in the placebo group (35%) (p = 0.035). Calcium supplementation appears to reduce the occurrence of preeclampsia and its related preterm birth in women singletons.