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Calcium plus linoleic acid therapy for pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Authors: Herrera JA, Shahabuddin AK, Ersheng G, Wei Y, Garcia RG, Lopez-Jaramillo P.
Source: Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005 Dec;91(3):221-7. Epub 2005 Oct 21.
Objective: To determine the effect of dietary supplementation of calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid (calcium-CLA) in reducing the incidence of vascular endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women at high risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Patients and methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 4 outpatient clinics in 2 developing countries recruited 48 healthy primigravidas younger than 19 years or older than 35 years who had a family history of pre-eclampsia and diastolic notch. Twenty-four participants received daily elemental calcium (600 mg) plus CLA (450 mg) and 24 received placebo from week 18 to 22 of pregnancy until delivery. Results: Calcium-CLA supplementation reduced significantly the incidence of PIH (2 cases [8%] in the study group vs. 10 cases [42%] in the placebo group; relative risk, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.82; P=.01). Endothelial dysfunction was also significantly reduced after calcium-CLA supplementation (in 18 women [75%] vs. 4 women [17%]; P<.001), compared with the placebo group (in 15 [63%] vs. 9 women [38%]; P=.08). Conclusion: In pregnant women at high risk for PIH, calcium-CLA supplementation decreases the incidence of PIH and improves endothelial function.