Researchers from India report that women pregnant for the first time who took calcium supplements had a 69% reduced risk of pre-eclampsia and a 49% reduced risk of pre-term birth. Pre-eclampsia is a sudden in increase in blood pressure that can be dangerous to both mother and child. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Calcium supplementation appears to reduce the occurrence of pre-eclampsia and pre-term delivery in [women with first-time pregnancies] who have a daily dietary calcium intake less than the recommended dietary allowances."
Source: Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2008; 104(1): 32-6
