Adequate calcium intake during pregnancy is critical to supporting the growth and development of the baby’s skeletal system, as well as muscle and nerve function, blood pressure regulation, and hormonal activity in mother and baby. Surprisingly, your Although your calcium needs do not increase during pregnancy, your ability to absorb this nutrient actually doubles.your body will be able to use the calcium you ingest more efficiently.
According to Mackenzie Caldwell MPH, RDN, LDN, calcium is found in dairy products, tofu, and spinach, and many people can meet their calcium needs through their diet. Owner of Feed Your Zest Nutrition and Wellness. however, Calcium needs are difficult to meet in the diet, but calcium supplements may be beneficial. Additionally, your health care professional may recommend calcium supplements if you: have been diagnosed with a deficiency, are pregnant with more than one child, or are at risk for or have preeclampsia.
To select our top picks for calcium supplements during pregnancy, we prioritized supplements with proper dosage, high-quality ingredients, and in-house or independent verification for guarantee.
Before adding any supplements to your daily routine, always consult a health care professional to ensure that the supplement is appropriate for your personal needs and to confirm the dosage you should take.
Should I take calcium supplements during pregnancy?
Caldwell said: Focus on foods rich in calcium You likely won’t need a calcium supplement, so consider that before purchasing. ” It’s best to focus on eating whole foods first during pregnancy, as your diet also naturally provides other nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin D, and magnesium, which help your body absorb and utilize calcium.
It is also interesting that during pregnancy many people experience the following symptoms: Increased desire for calcium-rich foodslike dairy products, may be your body’s cue to eat more of this nutrient.
Generally, Blood tests are not sufficient to measure calcium statusespecially during pregnancy. A bone scan called DEXA can be a good source for checking for signs of osteopenia or osteoporosis, Caldwell said. Otherwise, Most of us don’t know we are deficient in calcium. However, consuming two to three servings of calcium-rich foods each day can help prevent calcium deficiency.
However, it is not practical to get all the calcium you need from food, so some people may find supplements helpful. if you are vegan or vegetarian, suffer from food aversions or nausea, or have a history of low bone densityyou may need to consider calcium supplements.
“Fortunately, calcium deficiency usually does not harm the fetus, as the fetus tends to get all the calcium it needs from the mother’s calcium stores,” says Dr. Fox. He adds: Mothers need adequate calcium intake during pregnancy. Otherwise, her stores will be depleted faster than normal due to the calcium requirements of the fetus. ‘It would be wise to take Calcium supplementation after mid-pregnancywhen changes in blood pressure occur, the fetus stores most of the calcium for bone development.
Fox added: “We have data that suggests that: Calcium deficiency may be a risk factor for developing preeclampsia in late pregnancy” Studies have shown that when dietary calcium intake is low, low-dose (500 mg) or high-dose (>1,000 mg) calcium supplementation reduces the likelihood of hypertension, development of preeclampsia, and preterm birth, especially in women with high risk factors for preeclampsia.
People who may not benefit from calcium supplements during pregnancy
Our experts agree that if you’re getting enough calcium through your diet, you likely don’t need supplements. The benefit of calcium supplementation for preeclampsia was only seen when baseline calcium intake was very low (300–900 mg).
Dr. Fox also said: If you use Tums to reduce reflux, you may not need additional calcium supplements either. In fact, some medical professionals may recommend Tums as a calcium supplement during pregnancy and for heartburn relief.
Our Supplement Review Process
When considering our top picks for calcium supplements for pregnancy, we consulted gynecologists and prenatal nutritionists and reviewed the latest scientific literature on calcium types and dosages.
We support supplements based on scientific evidence. We emphasize certain product attributes that we believe are associated with the highest quality products. In this article, we prioritized products that were independently verified and independently certified, such as USP, NSF, and ConsumerLab.com.
It is important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are placed on the market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology for selecting the supplements we recommend.
our experts
We spoke to the following experts about what you should consider when taking calcium supplements during pregnancy. The experts have no financial ties to complement the company.
- Mackenzie Caldwell, MPH, RDN, LDN, Owner of Feed Your Zest Nutrition and Wellness LLC
- Jessy Heckroth, Registered Dietitian, Owner, Beyond Nutrition Co. Specializing in Hormone Health, Fertility, and Pregnancy
- Dr. Nathan Fox, Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist with Subspecialty Certification in Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Things to note about calcium supplements during pregnancy
shape
Calcium is available in a variety of forms, some of which are more effective and desirable than others. The most commonly available formats are:
- Calcium carbonate is generally the most common form and the cheapest, but it can also cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, gas, and constipation.
- Malate and citrate are more effective at raising calcium levels than carbonate, but it’s important to consume these two forms with your meals. It requires stomach acid for best absorption.
Ingredients and potential interactions
It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutritional facts of a supplement to know which ingredients are present and in what amounts compared to the recommended daily intake. Bring your supplement label to your health care provider to learn about the various ingredients in your supplement and potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements or medications you may be taking.
Mr. Heklos points out that Calcium and iron compete for absorption. She says, “To optimize absorption of both nutrients, we recommend avoiding consuming foods high in both nutrients or taking supplements at the same time.”
Calcium absorption depends on vitamin D, so calcium supplements that contain vitamin D are sometimes sold. Vitamin K and magnesium also promote calcium deposition in bones and may be packaged in calcium supplements.
It is important to know that calcium supplements can: interferes with absorption of thyroid hormonesTherefore, pregnant people who are also taking levothyroxine (synthroid) should leave a gap of time between taking these two tablets.
As mentioned above, if you frequently take antacids such as Tums, be careful when supplementing with additional calcium.
When choosing a supplement, it’s important to get it from a reliable source that meets standards for effectiveness and purity, and calcium is no exception. One of the biggest concerns about calcium supplements is the amount of mineral in the tablet or powder. A product label may state that it contains a certain amount of calcium, but it is actually deficient in calcium. Another concern is that many calcium sources also contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Choosing supplements from reliable sources is especially essential for pregnant women.
dosage
According to the current recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium during pregnancy for ages 19 to 50 is 1,000 mg. Additional supplements may be required depending on your pregnancy symptoms In cases where dietary calcium intake is low, such as in cases of multiple fetuses or pre-eclampsia. A medical professional can provide individualized recommendations for these conditions.
During pregnancy, the daily intake of calcium for ages 19 to 50 should not exceed 2,500 mg from any source.
Excessive calcium supplementation can cause constipation and even nausea. In more extreme cases, hypercalcemia (high serum calcium) or hypercalciuria (high urine calcium) can cause decreased muscle tone, kidney failure, weight loss, fatigue, increased urination, and cardiac arrhythmias, increasing the risk of heart disease and kidney stones.
who are we
Casey Seiden, MS, RD, CDN, DCES, is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, parent writer, and certified diabetes care and education specialist based in New York City. Casey works at Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, a premier maternal-fetal medical practice in Manhattan, providing nutritional therapy and counseling to women with high-risk pregnancies. She is also the founder of Casey Seiden Nutrition, a virtual private practice specializing in non-dietary approaches to diabetes care and women’s health.
