López-Jaramillo P, de Félix M
Unidad de Metabolismo Mineral, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador.
Bol Oficina Sanit Panam. 1991 Feb;110(2):126-35.
The Andean population of Ecuador is exposed to major risk factors associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). The disease is very frequent, and perinatal and maternal death rates are high. Recently a causal relationship has been suggested between dietary calcium deficiency and PIH, with the proposal that calcium supplements be given throughout pregnancy in order to prevent the disease. This article reviews a series of clinical tests carried out over a six-year period which have demonstrated that calcium supplementation is an effective low-cost measure for reducing the frequency of PIH in women whose intake of the mineral is low. It is not yet known how calcium reduces the risk of PIH. It is suggested that adequate intake of the mineral keeps serum levels of calcium within its narrow physiological limits; these are crucial for the synthesis of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelium, a substance that appears to be responsible for maintaining the vasodilatation that characterizes normal pregnancy. However, before the general use of calcium supplements can be recommended, it will be necessary to conduct epidemiological studies on larger numbers of women.
厄瓜多尔的安第斯人群面临与妊娠高血压综合征（PIH）相关的主要风险因素。该疾病非常常见，围产期和孕产妇死亡率很高。最近有人提出饮食中钙缺乏与PIH之间存在因果关系，并建议在整个孕期补充钙以预防该疾病。本文回顾了在六年期间进行的一系列临床试验，这些试验表明，对于矿物质摄入量低的女性，补充钙是一种有效且低成本的降低PIH发生率的措施。目前尚不清楚钙是如何降低PIH风险的。有人认为，充足的矿物质摄入可使血清钙水平保持在其狭窄的生理范围内；这对于血管内皮中一氧化氮的合成至关重要，一氧化氮似乎是维持正常妊娠所特有的血管舒张的物质。然而，在推荐普遍使用钙补充剂之前，有必要对更多女性进行流行病学研究。
