Digital screening tool may identify inadequate calcium intake in pregnant women: Study
Managing adequate intakes of calcium during pregnancy is important in several physiological processes, and reduces the risk of perinatal adverse events such as hypertensive disorders and preterm birth. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium is 1000 mg/day for all women of childbearing age. Calcium demands increase substantially during pregnancy, but are met by an increased intestinal absorption, renal reabsorption and mobilization from the maternal skeleton, mediated mostly by an increase in PTH and IGF-I over the course of pregnancy. However, these measures are insufficient to compensate for an inadequate intake.
Women of childbearing age have remarkably low intakes of calcium. Calcium supplementation starting from the second or third trimester in women with chronically low intakes reduces risks of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. The WHO and Dutch guidelines for pregnancy consultation therefore recommend daily calcium supplementation starting from the 20th week of gestation in women with an inadequate intake. Due to tight regulation of serum calcium levels, there is poor association between dietary and total calcium serum levels. Hence, nutritional screening is the only appropriate method to assess calcium intake. During regular maternal outpatient clinic visits there is neither time nor expertise for elaborate dietary assessments. A simple screening tool for calcium intake could offer a solution, and contribute to better care and prevention through early detection and intervention in women at risk of having an inadequate intake
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