The study was based on data collection from 12 clinical studies in the field of pregnancy and childbirth and included 15,528 pregnant women
From the analysis of the results of the collected data, a dramatic picture was obtained which indicated that among the pregnant women who took calcium supplements, there was a drop in blood pressure and a 50% decrease in the risk of developing preeclampsia. In addition, among women who were pregnant at high risk and consumed calcium supplements, a decrease of about 78% in risk was found. From the situation, it was concluded that regular consumption of calcium supplements during pregnancy significantly lowers the risk of getting preeclampsia.
The research was recently published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and joins a series of recent published studies in the field dealing with the leading risk factors for preeclampsia.
In a previous study published in the scientific journal for hypertension in pregnancy published in the United States (Hypertension in Pregnancy) it was found that women who developed preeclampsia suffered from a calcium deficiency, when their average daily calcium intake was only 0.75 grams, compared to women who did not develop the phenomenon and who were careful during The pregnancy on the consumption of calcium in a sufficient daily amount, which was on average 1.075 grams. The conclusions of the study are also that a lack of calcium may lead to the development of preeclampsia and that through the consumption of calcium supplements the risk of the development of the phenomenon can be significantly reduced. It should be noted that the recommended amount of calcium consumption for women during pregnancy It is 1-1.3 grams per day.
Dr. Hamotal Meiri, Doctor of Neurobiology, CEO of Diagnostic Technologies, a company engaged in the research of at-risk pregnancies and the development of methods for the early detection of preeclampsia, explained that: "Preeclampsia is a phenomenon that characterizes about 3% of the population in Israel and may cause the mortality and morbidity of the mother or the fetus. As of today, there are speculations regarding the causes of the disease, this study indicates that calcium deficiency may be a factor leading to preeclampsia and it joins medical knowledge that is increasingly accumulated by the world of science that points to environmental and behavioral factors that increase the risk of preeclampsia. As of today, the best way to prevent preeclampsia is through early detection, which makes it possible to increase the chances of healing and treatment, by close medical supervision, increasing awareness of the entire surrounding system, and using food supplements or medication to the extent the doctor deems necessary. One of the innovative ways of early detection of preeclampsia was recently developed by our team of scientists and through a simple blood test you can monitor the state of pregnancy and match it with appropriate treatment and medical support."
The scientists of Diagnostic Technologies from Yokneam have developed a method that makes it possible to determine whether a woman is at risk of getting preeclampsia. The detection phase is made possible long before the symptoms appear, thanks to a test kit that determines with a simple blood test the level of a protein in the mother's blood that originates from the placenta, known as PP13. The test, which is already carried out starting from the 7th week, can for the first time predict what may happen about six months later. The results of the test provide a tool in the hands of the doctors that allows them to consider providing drug treatment and thus reduce the outbreak of the disease and even in some cases prevent it completely. The development of the test was made possible thanks to the fact that the company's scientists were able to isolate a protein unique to the placenta, known as PP13, which is found only in pregnant women and which reaches the pregnant mother's blood.
