Encapsulated Calcium Absorption in Pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria

• •Complicated medical or obstetric history, based on self-report or clinical assessment by physician (e.g., cardiovascular disease, uterine hemorrhage, placenta previa, threatened abortion, hypertension, preeclampsia, multiple gestation, diabetes, renal disease)
• •Higher risk pregnancy based on one or more of the following clinical findings at time of recruitment:
• •* Severe anemia (hemoglobin \<70 g/L assessed by Hemocue)
• •* Proteinuria (≥ 100 mg/dl based on urine dipstick)
• •* Glycosuria (≥ 100 mg/dl based on urine dipstick)
• •* Hypertension (systolic blood pressure, ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg)
• •Reported use of dietary supplements that contain \>500 mg of calcium per day and/or \>400 IU (10 mcg) of vitamin D per day
• •Reported use (chewing) of betel leaf, areca nut and lime (together referred to locally as paan) during pregnancy