Calcium intake from diet and supplement use during early pregnancy: the Expect study I

Abstract

Purpose Adequate calcium intake during pregnancy is of major importance for the health of both mother and fetus. Up to date, evidence on the prevalence of inadequate calcium intake among pregnant women is sparse for Western countries, and it is unknown to what extent inadequate dietary calcium intake is adequately balanced by supplement use. The objective of this study was to estimate calcium intake from diet and supplement use during the early pregnancy in The Netherlands. Methods As part of the Expect cohort study, 2477 pregnant women (8-16 weeks of gestation) completed an online questionnaire including questions on baseline characteristics, the use of calcium containing supplements, and a short food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Intake data were used to calculate median calcium intakes from diet, from supplements, and combined, and to compare these values with currently accepted requirement levels. Results Forty-two percent of the pregnant women had a total calcium intake below the estimated average requirement of 800 mg/day. Median (interquartile range) calcium intake was 886 (611-1213) mg/day. Calcium or multivitamin supplements were used by 64.8% of the women at 8 weeks of gestation, with a median calcium content of 120.0 (60.0-200.0) mg/day. Prenatal vitamins were the most often used supplements (60.6%). Conclusions Forty-two percent of Dutch pregnant women have an inadequate calcium intake. Supplements are frequently used, but most do not contain sufficient amounts to correct this inadequate intake.

Calcium Intake and Health

“…In this way, some Asian countries have higher proportion of total calcium intake from non-animal foods such as vegetables, legumes and grains than from dairy products, though they also have a much lower calcium intake [6]. In the United states and in Holland, 72 and 58% of calcium supply come from dairy products, respectively, whereas in China, only around 7% of total calcium intake comes from dairy products, while most comes from vegetables (30.2%) and legumes (16.7%) [7,8,9] Fortified foods such as cereals and juices can additionally become important sources of calcium.…”

Micronutrient supplementation in pregnancies following bariatric surgery: a practical review for clinicians

“…During lactation, 300 to 400 mg calcium is utilized for the daily production of breast milk, stressing the importance of adequate calcium intake after birth [14]. Unfortunately, about 89% of pregnant women in developing countries have an inadequate calcium intake of less than 1000 mg/day [73]. Dietary sources are reported to be insufficient in 50% of pregnancies [73].…”

Contribution of Major Groups of Food Products to the Daily Intake of Selected Elements—Results from Analytical Determinations Supported by Chemometric Analysis

“…Moreover, calcium bioavailability from plant foods is significantly lower compared to dairy products, which also diminishes the body's calcium balance. In the United States, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, 72, 58, and 43% of daily calcium level are derived from dairy products, whereas in China, only around 7% of total calcium comes from dairy products, while the majority intake is from vegetables (30.2%) and legumes (16.7%) [50,51,53,54]. The results of this study are in agreement with these data, as milk and dairy products were by far the major contributors to the daily calcium intake.…”