Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the association of calcium supplementation during the pregnancy with the birth weight of single-born neonates.
Methods
The survey employed a multistage, stratified and random sampling to investigate 15–49 aged pregnant women in 2010 to 2013 in Shaanxi province. A self - designed questionnaire was utilized. Birth weight between the 10(th) and 90(th) percentile was classified as appropriate for gestational age(AGA) infants. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were conducted to evaluate the association of calcium supplementation with single-born neonatal birth weight.
Results
A total of 28,490 women was enrolled in this study, 17 349 (60.9%) of participants had calcium supplementation during pregnancy. The incidence rates of small and large gestational age infants were 13.5% and 8.3%, respectively. The study conducted that calcium supplementation had a statistically significant difference in SGA (birth weight percentile <10) (P < 0.01). After adjusting the regression models by confounding factors, we found that calcium supplementation was still protective towards SGA birth, the difference was statistically significant (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82–0.96, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the birth to LGA (birth weight percentile <10).
Conclusions
Calcium supplementation during pregnancy reduced the risk of SGA, but was not associated with the birth of LGA.
Funding Sources
Association of Calcium Supplementation During Pregnancy with the Birth Weight of Single-Born Neonates in Rural Northwest China
