CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION DURING PREGNANCY FOR THE PREVENTION OF PRE-ECLAMPSIA: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is one of the leading hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, representing a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Calcium supplementation has been investigated as a preventive strategy, particularly in populations with low dietary intake of this mineral. This study aimed to map and analyze the available scientific evidence on calcium supplementation during pregnancy for the prevention of pre-eclampsia through a review of the literature. The search was conducted in the BVS (LILACS, SciELO) and PubMed databases, with a five-year filter (2021–2026), using the descriptors "supplements", "calcium", "pregnancy", and "pre-eclampsia". Observational studies and controlled clinical trials with free full-text access, published in English or Spanish, were included. At the end of the selection process, 18 studies were included. The results showed that calcium supplementation at doses of 1.5 to 2 g/day reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia in populations with low dietary intake. Recent evidence demonstrates that lower doses (500 mg/day) may be equally effective, with greater programmatic feasibility. It is concluded that calcium supplementation constitutes an evidence-based preventive intervention, although gaps remain regarding optimal dose, timing, and generalizability.