Effects of calcium supplementation on uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow in low-calcium-intake mothers: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

We postulated that calcium supplementation of calcium-deficient pregnant women would lower vascular resistance in uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulations. Pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) (uterine and umbilical arteries) and presence of bilateral uterine artery diastolic notching were assessed by Doppler ultrasound between 20-36 weeks' gestation in 510 healthy, nulliparous Argentinean women with deficient calcium intake in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. Average umbilical and uterine artery RI and PI tended to be lower in the supplemented group at each study week. Differences became statistically significant for umbilical artery RI and PI from 32 and 36 weeks, respectively. Estimated probabilities of bilateral uterine artery diastolic notching trended toward lower values in calcium-supplemented women. Calcium supplementation of pregnant women with deficient calcium intake may affect uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow by preserving the vasodilation of normal gestation.