A comparison of calcium levels in pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnancies in a low dietary calcium setting

Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in South Africa. At present this disease cannot be prevented and many interventions to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia have been investigated. Calcium supplementation of pregnant women at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia has been shown to be of some benefit in reducing the incidence of the disease, with the greatest benefit seen in low dietary calcium settings. While serum calcium is an unreliable indicator of chronic calcium status, hair analysis is an accurate and well documented method of determining long-term micronutrient status.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Richards, Dominic G D

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• van der Spuy, Zephne Margaret

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11528

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/11528