Comparison of High and Low Dose Calcium Supplementation in Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

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Calcium supplementation during pregnancy may prevent high blood pressure and preterm labour. Out of 500 women, 480 completed the study. At hospital enrolment, the average systolic blood pressure (SBP) was similar between the two groups (116.10 mm Hg vs. 115.01 mm Hg; P = 0.215), as was the average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (72.74 mm Hg vs. 72.12 mm Hg; P = 0.301). No significant increase in blood pressure was observed in the majority of pregnant women in either group until delivery. Only 2.5% of women in the low-dose group (LDG - group I) and 1.88% in the high-dose group (HDG - group II) developed pre-eclampsia by the end of the study, with no significant association between different calcium dosages and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (P = 0.503). Regarding maternal complications, 0.63% of women in the group I and 0.21% in the group II experienced major complications during pregnancy or postpartum, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.623). Among the 480 women, 475 had term labor, and only 5 had preterm deliveries (before 36 weeks of gestation). No maternal deaths were reported.Our study concluded that calcium supplementation, whether in low or high dose, provides significant benefit for pregnant women. The findings demonstrate a notable advantage in preventing pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), preterm labor, premature births, and related complications. Therefore, calcium supplementation is highly effective in preventing PIH, which in turn helps prevent pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. As both low and high dose Calcium are effective in preventing PE and Eclampsia, it may be recommended that low dose calcium supplementation may be helpful in prevention of HDP and have favourable feto-maternal outcome in a low resource setting like ours. Keywords: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), Blood Pressure, Pre-eclampsia, Calcium.