Levels of select vitamins and minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife blood pressure risk

Medical Xpress / American Heart Association / Hypertension ^ | March 6, 2025 | Mingyu Zhang et al

[ConservativeMind]

Women with higher levels of essential minerals circulating in their blood during pregnancy, particularly copper and manganese, along with vitamin B12, had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age, about 20 years later, according to research.

The researchers analyzed data from Project Viva, an ongoing, long-term study that began in 1999 of women and their children who live in eastern Massachusetts. Nearly 500 women enrolled in the study during early pregnancy, between 1999 and 2002. Researchers measured concentrations of non-essential metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury and lead), essential minerals (copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc), folate and vitamin B12 in blood samples collected during study enrollment.

After nearly twenty years of follow-up, researchers conducted a midlife study visit between 2017 and 2021 with the same study participants.

The study found:

After researchers adjusted for sociodemographic factors, as levels of copper and manganese doubled in the blood during pregnancy, the risk of high blood pressure in midlife was 25% and 20% lower, respectively. As blood levels of vitamin B12 doubled during pregnancy, women had an average 3.64 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure and 2.52 mm Hg lower diastolic blood pressure almost two decades later. About 95% of the study participants had vitamin B12 levels within the normal range, the researchers noted.

Blood levels of the mixture of copper, manganese, selenium and zinc were also associated with lower blood pressure in a relationship that increased with dose. Nonessential metals did not have a significant impact on blood pressure.

"Circulating levels of these metals and minerals in blood were measured," Zhang said. "Optimizing these essential metals, minerals and vitamins, particularly copper, manganese and vitamin B12, during pregnancy may offer protective benefits against hypertension in midlife, an especially critical time period for women's future cardiovascular risk in life."

[ConservativeMind]

Good blood levels of vitamin B12, copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc during pregnancy were associated with better blood pressure 20 years later.

[ConservativeMind]

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