Nutrition is known to exert an undeniable impact on blood pressure with especially salt (sodium chloride), but also potassium, playing a prominent role. The aim of this review was to summarize meta-analyses studying the effect of different electrolytes on blood pressure or risk for hypertension, respectively. Overall, 32 meta-analyses evaluating the effect of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium on human blood pressure or hypertension risk were included after literature search. Most of the meta-analyses showed beneficial blood pressure lowering effects with the extent of systolic blood pressure reduction ranging between −0.7 (95% confidence interval: −2.6 to 1.2) to −8.9 (−14.1 to −3.7) mmHg for sodium/salt reduction, −3.5 (−5.2 to −1.8) to −9.5 (−10.8 to −8.1) mmHg for potassium, and −0.2 (−0.4 to −0.03) to −18.7 (−22.5 to −15.0) mmHg for magnesium. The range for diastolic blood pressure reduction was 0.03 (−0.4 to 0.4) to −5.9 (−9.7 to −2.1) mmHg for sodium/salt reduction, −2 (−3.1 to −0.9) to −6.4 (−7.3 to −5.6) mmHg for potassium, and −0.3 (−0.5 to −0.03) to −10.9 (−13.1 to −8.7) mmHg for magnesium. Moreover, sufficient calcium intake was found to reduce the risk of gestational hypertension.

Our summary of meta-analyses showed that multimicronutrient supplementation had beneficial effects on some neonatal outcomes. Furthermore, higher ferritin levels seem to increase the risk for GDM whereas maternal anemia was associated with adverse birth/neonatal outcomes.

Objective Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) elimination in low-income countries is a major aim of public health endeavors, due to poor vaccination status, lack of antenatal care, and unhygienic birth practices. The objective of this study, thus, was to assess the present state and factors associated with maternal tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination in Pakistan. Methods Overall, 80 pregnant women (26 ± 4 y) during their last trimester were recruited from the district hospital Khanewal, Pakistan. The prevalence of vaccination was ascertained through clinical interviews and examination of health records from each participant. A questionnaire-based interview was conducted to assess the education level, antenatal visits, and sociodemographic variables related to vaccination coverage. A generalized linear model was used for statistical analyses. Results Seventy-nine percent of pregnant women were vaccinated with two doses of TT vaccine, while 16% of women were unvaccinated. Overall, 66% of pregnant women received two or more antenatal visits. Two and more than two antenatal visits during pregnancy were associated with significantly increased odds ratios for sufficient TT vaccination (OR = 1.60, CI [95%] 1.34–1.92 and OR = 1.61, CI [95%] 1.32–1.97, respectively) as compared to no or only one antenatal visit. Conclusion Regular antenatal care can improve vaccination coverage during pregnancy. Hence, reducing barriers for visiting antenatal care facilities could be key to reach the goal for MNT elimination.

Micronutrients, as essential components of prenatal care, are important to reduce the risk for maternal and child morbidity and mortality by lowering pregnancy-related complications. The present study aimed to investigate the status of the trace elements, i.e., selenium, zinc, and manganese in pregnant and non-pregnant women from a developing country and to evaluate its relationship with maternal and child complications. Selenium, zinc, and manganese concentrations were measured in the blood serum of 80 pregnant women and compared with 40 non-pregnant healthy controls. The quantitative analyses of trace elements were performed by using the inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. The information about the dietary habits of the study participants was recorded by using a food frequency questionnaire. The results showed significant lower selenium and zinc levels in pregnant women as compared to the controls (2.26 ± 1.09 vs. 2.76 ± 1.15 µmol/L, p = 0.031; 21.86 ± 7.21 vs. 29.54 ± 7.62 µmol/L, p < 0.001) respectively, with no difference in manganese concentrations (1.40 ± 0.09 vs.1.38 ± 0.09 log10 nmol/L, p = 0.365). Regarding maternal and child complications, higher manganese levels were associated with an increased odds ratio for maternal complications (OR = 3.175, CI (95%) 1.631−6.181; p = 0.038). Consumption of dairy products was associated with lower selenium and manganese values. Pregnant women showed a lower serum selenium and zinc status, and in addition elevated serum manganese concentrations, which might be associated with a higher risk for maternal pregnancy/birth complications, although more studies are necessary to evaluate this association.

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