Maternal Calcium Intake During Pregnancy and Children's Blood Pressure
Author Information
Author(s): Bergel Eduardo, Barros Aluisio JD
Primary Institution: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires
Hypothesis
Does maternal dietary calcium intake during pregnancy affect blood pressure in offspring?
Conclusion
Higher maternal calcium intake during pregnancy is associated with lower offspring systolic blood pressure.
Supporting Evidence
- Calcium supplementation during pregnancy has been shown to reduce hypertension in mothers.
- Blood pressure levels in childhood can be influenced by factors during fetal life.
- Four out of five studies indicated a reduction in offspring systolic blood pressure with higher maternal calcium intake.
Takeaway
If moms eat more calcium while pregnant, their kids might have lower blood pressure when they grow up.
Methodology
A systematic review of randomized, quasi-randomized, and cohort studies was conducted to assess the relationship between maternal calcium intake and offspring blood pressure.
Potential Biases
Loss to follow-up was a serious concern in several studies.
Limitations
Small sample sizes and methodological problems in many studies.
Participant Demographics
Studies included mothers and their offspring, with some studies focusing on infants and others on children aged 1 to 9 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.036
Confidence Interval
95% CI -3.14 to -0.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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