Calcium Supplementation (other Than for Preventing or Treating Hypertension) for Improving Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 23 studies with a total of 18 587 women. Calcium supplementation did not statistically significantly reduce preterm births (less than 37 weeks' gestation; RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.05; 13 studies, n=16 139) or very preterm births (less than 34 weeks' gestation; RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.36; 4 trials, n=5669) compared with placebo or no treatment. Dosage, prescription timing and the type of calcium supplementation did not effect this outcome.There was no significant difference in infant low birth weight between the two groups (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.07; 6 trials, 14 162 infants). Compared to the control group, women in the calcium supplementation group gave birth to slightly heavier birth weight infants (mean difference 56.40, 95% CI 13.55 to 99.25; 21 trials, n=9202), however, there was significant heterogeneity for this outcome.