Calcium supplement pregnancy

Calcium carbonate

Calcium supplement pregnancy - This sheet is about exposure to calcium carbonate in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not be used as a substitute for medical care or the advice of your health care provider.

What is calcium carbonate?

Calcium carbonate is a dietary supplement. It has been used as an antacid to relieve symptoms of heartburn, acid indigestion, or an upset stomach. Some examples of OTC antacids with calcium carbonate are Tums®, Rolaids®, Maalox®, and Mylanta®.

The supplement label should list both the calcium carbonate dose and the actual calcium dose, usually labeled "elemental calcium."

There are guidelines on the Recommended Nutritional Allowance (RNA) for calcium (elemental calcium). For people who are pregnant and older than 18, the ANR is 1,000 mg per day. For pregnant people between the ages of 14 and 18, the ANR for calcium is 1,300 mg per day. People can reach their ANR for calcium by eating foods rich in calcium, in addition to that found in supplements and vitamins. If you have a medical condition that could affect your calcium levels, talk to your healthcare provider about how much calcium you need. Be sure to discuss all of your exposures, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, with your healthcare providers.

I take calcium carbonate. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

Taking calcium carbonate at recommended levels is not expected to make it more difficult to get pregnant.

Does taking calcium carbonate increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. However, based on the studies reviewed, consuming calcium carbonate at recommended levels is not expected to increase the chance of miscarriage.

Does taking calcium carbonate increase the chance of birth defects?

Every pregnancy begins with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is known as background risk. Based on the studies reviewed, calcium carbonate intake at recommended levels is not expected to increase the likelihood of birth defects above background risk.

Could taking calcium carbonate increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

When taken as directed, calcium carbonate is not expected to increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm labor (birth before 37 weeks) or low birth weight (weight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth).

Does taking calcium carbonate during pregnancy affect the child’s behavior or learning abilities in the future?

Studies have not been done to determine if calcium carbonate can cause behavior or learning problems in a child.

What happens if I take higher than recommended levels of calcium carbonate?

Using calcium carbonate in more than the recommended amount could cause low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). Also, taking more calcium carbonate than recommended has been associated with the milk-alkali syndrome. The milk-alkali syndrome is caused by high levels of calcium in the blood. This could lead to the breakdown of calcium in other body tissues and cause kidney failure. A few case studies of newborns with seizures have been reported when high doses of calcium carbonate were used near the end of pregnancy. However, case studies are of limited value as they may not include important information that could also explain the reported results.

Breastfeeding while taking calcium carbonate:

There are guidelines on the Recommended Nutritional Allowance (RNA) for calcium (elemental calcium). For people who are breastfeeding and older than 18 years, the ANR is 1000 mg. The ANR for calcium for pregnant people between the ages of 14 and 18 is 1,300 mg.

Calcium is found in breast milk. When calcium carbonate is taken in recommended doses, it is unlikely to harm a nursing baby. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about all your questions about breastfeeding.

If a man takes calcium carbonate, could it affect fertility (ability to get his partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects?

Studies have not been done to determine if calcium carbonate affects male fertility or increases the chance of birth defects. However, in general, parental or donor sperm exposures are unlikely to increase pregnancy risks. 

The importance of taking calcium in pregnancy

Increasing the intake of some nutrients such as folic acid, iron, or calcium during pregnancy is essential to ensure the baby's proper development. The general recommendation is that pregnant women consume at least three servings of calcium-rich foods daily. Even so, sometimes doctors advise taking dietary supplements to ensure sufficient calcium intake during pregnancy.

What role does calcium play in pregnancy?

Calcium is one of the most abundant elements in the human body. It is an essential nutrient in basic processes of our body, such as:

The maintenance of bone structure (both bones and teeth)

neural excitability

nerve impulse transmission

blood coagulation

The regulation of the cardiovascular system

activation of enzymes

cell permeability

Calcium consumption should be constant throughout life, although its recommended intake varies depending on the person's absorption capacity, which usually decreases over the years. In fact, a lack of calcium usually manifests itself with osteoporosis, joint pain, and problems with teeth and gums, ailments generally linked to aging.

Throughout pregnancy, women undergo notable changes in the metabolism of calcium. The most important is the increased intestinal absorption to facilitate the supply of calcium from the mother to the fetus. He needs a significant amount of this nutrient to form her bones and properly function her heart, nerves, and muscles. We must not forget that the calcium consumed during pregnancy will also be essential for the baby to develop a normal heart rate and coagulation capacity.

Thus, during pregnancy, the mother must consume enough calcium to guarantee, on the one hand, the demands of the baby and, on the other hand, maintain its plasma and bone levels. If this is not the case, the baby can acquire the calcium it needs from the mother and cause the bones' decalcification, leading to osteoporosis.

Consuming enough calcium during pregnancy also prevents the risk of high blood pressure in normotensive women, a pathology of risk for the pregnant woman and the fetus, and can commonly cause premature birth.

Calcium in pregnancy: how much should I eat daily?

The general recommendation is that pregnant women consume the same amount of calcium as any non-pregnant woman of reproductive age, that is, 1,000 mg. of calcium per day before, during, and after pregnancy. However, if the pregnant woman is under 18 years of age, the recommended consumption is somewhat higher (1,300 mg of calcium per day).

To cover the recommended amount of calcium during pregnancy, women should include at least three servings of foods rich in calcium in their diet. Such as milk, yogurt, or cheese, in addition to calcium from other non-dairy sources such as shellfish, fish, juices of natural fruits (for example, orange juice), vegetables such as artichokes, chard or spinach, nuts (especially almonds) and legumes (mainly chickpeas).

To get an idea, a glass of whole milk has just under 300 mg. of calcium, while a low-fat yogurt has about 400 mg. So a glass of orange juice fortified with calcium can give you more than 250 mg. of this mineral during a ration of 100 gr. Salmon will provide you with just under 200 mg.

If you are pregnant, ask your doctor about the amount of calcium recommended for you and what type of food you can find it in.

Finally, remember how important it is to take calcium during pregnancy as well as vitamin D, which is the component that will allow your body to absorb it. Vitamin D is obtainable in three ways:

Through the skin. Direct exposure of the skin to the sun causes the body to produce vitamin D.

With the ingestion of certain foods (mainly eggs and fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, and sardines).

Through food supplements.

Should I take calcium supplements during pregnancy?

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not have data that recommend universal calcium supplementation during pregnancy. Therefore, this type of supplement would be reserved for high-risk population groups. These include pregnant women with dietary deficiencies or a deficient in calcium (less than 600 mg per day) or women at high risk of suffering from preeclampsia (women with a history of this disease, pregnant women over 40 years of age, pregnant women with high blood pressure or women with kidney problems).

The WHO recommends that calcium supplementation in pregnancy always be accompanied by vitamin D supplements and counseling to promote proper eating habits.

More tips for a healthy pregnancy

As you know, during pregnancy, you must take care of your health for two people, the mother, and the baby. It is common for the mother to feel worried and uneasy about how her baby will grow, but now there is no reason to feel that way. Do you want to ensure your baby is growing healthy and without abnormalities? The NACE non-invasive prenatal test is much easier than you imagine. An alternative to amniocentesis is performed with a simple blood sample from the mother's arm, and abnormalities such as Down syndrome or Patau syndrome can be detected. Do you want more information? Do not hesitate to contact us; we will be happy to help you.

Calcium supplements during pregnancy for the prevention of hypertensive disorders and related problems

What is the problem?

Preeclampsia presents as hypertension and protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is a major cause of death in pregnant women and newborns worldwide. Preterm birth (delivery before 37 weeks) is often caused by hypertension and is the leading cause of death in newborns, particularly in low-income countries.

Why is this important?

Evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that calcium supplementation helps prevent pre-eclampsia and preterm birth and lowers the risk of a pregnant woman dying or developing serious problems related to high blood pressure. This is particularly true for patients on low calcium diets.

What evidence was found?

A search was performed on September 18, 2017, and 27 trials were found. We found evidence from 13 studies (including 15,730 women) that high-dose calcium supplementation (at least 1 g daily) during pregnancy might be a safe way to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, especially in pregnant women. Communities with low dietary intake of calcium and those at increased risk of pre-eclampsia. Women given calcium supplements might also be less likely to die or have severe problems due to pre-eclampsia (low-quality evidence) and high blood pressure. In addition, babies might be less likely to be born early (low-quality evidence). Hemolysis syndrome, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets were increased by calcium, but the absolute numbers were small (high-quality evidence). High doses of calcium had no apparent effect on babies admitted to neonatal intensive care, nor on the number of stillbirths or deaths before hospital discharge.

More studies are needed on the ideal dose of supplementation. Limited evidence from 12 trials (2334 women) suggested that a relatively low dose of calcium may reduce pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure. Infants were admitted to intensive care (however, the quality of evidence for calcium administration was only lowered because eight of the included trials gave other medications along with calcium, such as vitamin D, linoleic acid, or antioxidants). Low doses of calcium had no apparent effect on preterm birth, stillbirth, or death before hospital discharge.

A small study compared a high dose of calcium with a low dose of calcium. Pre-eclampsia appeared to be reduced in the high-dose group, but no other differences for preterm birth or stillbirth were found.

What does this mean?

In settings where dietary calcium is low, supplementation is a vital strategy to reduce the severe consequences of pre-eclampsia. When high-dose supplementation is not possible, the option of lower-dose supplementation (500 to 600 mg/day) might be preferable to no supplementation.