Calcium metabolism in the pregnant Nigerian
Egwuatu, V.E.; Umez-Eronini, E.M.; Isichei, U.P.
East African Medical Journal 57(4): 256-261
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 7389615 Document Number: 166961
The 55 Nigerian women were studied during their 1st pregnancy and for 6 weeks after parturition. They took their usual generally high-carbohydrate diet with supplements of iron and vitamins. Serum calcium fell during pregnancy. Excretion of Ca in urine decreased very significantly during and after pregnancy. Serum alkaline phosphatase increased significantly during pregnancy and returned towards normal after parturition, there was a slight nonsignificant increase of serum inorganic phosphorus that could not be explained. Serum total protein and albumin fell in the 2nd and increased slightly in the 3rd trimester, neither significantly. Most of the changes suggested biochemical osteomalacia.