The ICMR recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium in a pregnant woman is approximately:

• A 800 mg/day
• B 1000 mg/day
• C 1200 mg/day ✓
• D 1500 mg/day

Explanation

ICMR-NIN (2020) Dietary Reference Values recommend 1200 mg/day of calcium for pregnant women to meet foetal skeletal mineralisation demands and maintain maternal bone density. The non-pregnant adult female requirement is 1000 mg/day; lactating women also require 1200 mg/day. Inadequate calcium intake during pregnancy is associated with leg cramps, pre-eclampsia, and reduced neonatal bone mineral content. The national Calcium Supplementation Programme provides calcium tablets to pregnant and lactating women.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.