Reported Calcium Intake is Reduced in Women with Preeclampsia

Objective: The purpose of this trial is to investigate the relationship between dietary calcium content and incidence of preeclampsia, comparing diet calcium content in normotensive and preeclampsia patients. Dietary calcium was measured by a dietary interview conducted at the day after delivery. Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving 1092 patients who delivered at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre – Brazil. Results: The average diet calcium content in the studied population was 1038 mg. The average calcium intake in the normotensive group was 1057 mg, in chronic hypertension group was 962 mg, in transient hypertension group was 963 mg, in mild preeclampsia was 902 mg and in severe preeclampsia group was 755 mg. The results of this study show that pregnant women who develop severe preeclampsia have a significant lower diet calcium intake when compared to normotensive women (P = 0.018). Conclusion: The results of the present study can provide the foundations for prospective trials, including randomised clinical trials involving only patients with a low content of calcium in their diet.