Women with higher levels of essential minerals during pregnancy, such as copper, manganese, and vitamin B12, may have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure in midlife, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2025 Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.
The study, published in the American Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journal Hypertension, is the first to explore the relationship between pregnancy mineral levels and blood pressure risks in midlife. Researchers analyzed data from Project Viva, a long-term study that began in 1999 and included nearly 500 women in Massachusetts. The study focused on the blood concentrations of essential metals and micronutrients like copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and zinc during pregnancy and their potential impact on blood pressure and hypertension risk nearly two decades later.
Key Findings:
Copper and Manganese: When copper and manganese levels doubled in a woman’s blood during pregnancy, the risk of developing high blood pressure in midlife decreased by 25% and 20%, respectively.
Vitamin B12: A doubling of vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy was associated with an average reduction of 3.64 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 2.52 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure in midlife.
Collective Effect of Essential Metals: A combination of copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc was linked to lower blood pressure, with greater reductions seen with higher levels of these minerals.
Non-Essential Metals: The study found no significant impact of non-essential metals (e.g., arsenic, lead, and cadmium) on blood pressure.
Implications and Next Steps:
This research suggests that optimizing essential minerals and vitamins during pregnancy, particularly copper, manganese, and vitamin B12, may have long-term protective benefits against hypertension, a critical factor for women’s cardiovascular health later in life. However, researchers emphasize that the study’s observational nature means that these findings are not recommendations, and further clinical trials are needed to determine the ideal intake levels of these nutrients.
Lead study author Mingyu Zhang, Ph.D., M.H.S., noted that while the findings are promising, they are not conclusive and should not yet guide dietary recommendations. The researchers also hope to identify women at high risk for high blood pressure and explore whether enhancing nutrition or supplementation during pregnancy could reduce the risk of hypertension in midlife.
Study Limitations:
The study focused primarily on women from Eastern Massachusetts, and the sample was predominantly white, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, blood samples were taken only during pregnancy, meaning the researchers were unable to assess mineral levels between delivery and midlife. Further research will be essential to better understand these associations and their broader implications.
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