Can pregnant women take calcium citrate?

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body will undergo significant changes. At this time, pregnant women should pay attention to supplementing a lot of nutrition, because the physical health of pregnant women will directly affect the development and growth of the fetus. Pregnant women not only need to adjust their diet, but also need to supplement some calcium. If calcium is not supplemented in time, it cannot meet the needs of fetal development. So can pregnant women take calcium citrate when supplementing calcium?

Can pregnant women take calcium citrate?

If the deficiency is not very serious, it is recommended to supplement it through diet. Most people will have a slight deficiency. Eating appropriate amounts of eggs and stewed pork ribs, and getting some sun exposure when there is sunshine can promote the absorption of calcium in the body. For example, if you experience calf cramps and loose teeth at night, it means that the deficiency is more serious and can be supplemented with medication; liquids will be better.

Calcium citrate is a calcium salt derived from citric acid. It is a nutritional supplement used to prevent and treat calcium deficiency. It promotes dental and bone health and helps with weight loss.

Precautions for pregnant women when taking calcium supplements

1. Pregnant women should take calcium supplements in moderation

The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the appropriate daily calcium intake in early pregnancy is 800 mg, and the appropriate daily calcium intake for women in mid-to-late pregnancy is 1000 mg. However, dietary surveys of pregnant women show that the average daily dietary calcium intake is around 480 mg. Chinese pregnant women should supplement an additional 520 mg of calcium per day. However, taking a large amount of calcium at one time will block the receptors and prevent calcium from being absorbed. Therefore, the dose of calcium taken each time should not be too large. Pregnant women can divide 600-800 mg of calcium into 2-3 doses, and try not to take more than 500 mg at a time.

2. Supplement vitamin D appropriately

Vitamin D can help the intestines absorb calcium more effectively. In the case of a lack of vitamin D, the body's absorption and storage rates of calcium will decrease. Ensuring an adequate intake of vitamin D is especially important for pregnant women. For the average adult, regular exposure to sunlight is enough to meet daily vitamin D needs and generally no supplement is needed. If a pregnant woman cannot produce enough vitamin D on her own, she needs to take additional appropriate supplements under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Pay attention to the impact of food factors on calcium

Food also contains many factors that affect calcium absorption and bioutilization, such as too high salt content in the diet, and large amounts of oxalic acid or phytic acid in foods such as spinach, rapeseed, pasta, and rice. These substances will reduce the effect of calcium supplementation. An appropriate amount of protein in the daily diet, vitamin D in the diet, acidic amino acids and low-phosphorus diet can improve calcium absorption and are of certain help to pregnant women in calcium supplementation.

4. Choose the best time to supplement calcium

The best time for pregnant women to supplement calcium is before going to bed and between meals. The blood calcium concentration is lowest in the second half of the night and the morning, so it is best to supplement calcium before going to bed. The best time to supplement calcium before going to bed is to start taking it half an hour after resting for dinner.