Women who had higher levels of essential minerals, including copper, manganese, and vitamin B12, circulating in their blood during pregnancy were found to have a significantly lower risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age, about 20 years later, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans.
The study, which is the first of its kind, investigates how the levels of essential metals during pregnancy may influence women’s blood pressure and hypertension risk in midlife. The research, published in Hypertension, could have important implications for preventing cardiovascular diseases in women.
Essential Metals and Cardiovascular Health
Manganese, selenium, magnesium, and copper are essential metals that play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body. These metals are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help protect against cardiovascular diseases. Previous research has suggested that higher levels of manganese during pregnancy were linked to a reduced risk of preeclampsia—a form of high blood pressure during pregnancy—but the long-term effects on blood pressure in later life had not been explored.
This new study aimed to fill that gap by examining whether the levels of essential metals and micronutrients during pregnancy could influence the development of high blood pressure later in life. Chronic exposure to non-essential metals, such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, has been shown to increase cardiovascular risk, according to the American Heart Association’s 2023 scientific statement on “Contaminant Metals as Cardiovascular Risk Factors.”
Dr. Mingyu Zhang, the lead author of the study and an epidemiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, emphasized that heavy metals and trace elements are common environmental exposures, and their impact on cardiovascular health, particularly hypertension, is well-documented. “In our study, we wanted to explore how levels of essential metals and elements during pregnancy may affect blood pressure and hypertension risk in midlife,” Zhang said.
Study Methodology and Findings
The study analyzed data from Project Viva, a long-term study that began in 1999 to track the health of women and their children in eastern Massachusetts. Nearly 500 women participated, with blood samples taken during early pregnancy. The researchers measured levels of both essential minerals (copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc) and non-essential metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury, and lead), as well as vitamin B12 and folate.
Nearly two decades later, the researchers conducted a follow-up study when the women were in their 50s. They measured the participants’ blood pressure to identify any correlations between the minerals measured during pregnancy and the development of high blood pressure later in life. High blood pressure was defined as a reading higher than 130/80 mm Hg or the use of anti-hypertensive medication.
Key findings from the study include:
- As levels of copper and manganese doubled in the blood during pregnancy, the risk of developing high blood pressure in midlife decreased by 25% and 20%, respectively.
- Women who had higher levels of vitamin B12 during pregnancy had an average systolic blood pressure that was 3.64 mm Hg lower, and diastolic blood pressure that was 2.52 mm Hg lower, almost two decades later.
- A combination of copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc was associated with lower blood pressure, with the effect increasing with higher concentrations.
- Non-essential metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic did not show significant impacts on blood pressure in this study.
Implications and Next Steps
The researchers suggest that these findings could have important public health implications. “Optimizing these essential metals, minerals, and vitamins—especially copper, manganese, and vitamin B12—during pregnancy may offer protective benefits against hypertension in midlife,” Zhang noted. This could be an important strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk in women, a critical factor as they age.
However, Zhang cautioned that while the study provides valuable insights, it does not recommend specific changes in diet or supplementation. “The sources of these metals—whether from food or supplements—were not assessed, so these findings should not be interpreted as clinical recommendations,” he said. Further research, including clinical trials, is needed to determine the optimal dietary intake of these nutrients.
The study’s long-term goal is to identify women at high risk of developing hypertension and intervene during pregnancy, possibly through enhanced nutrition or supplements, to help prevent the onset of high blood pressure later in life.
Study Design and Limitations
The analysis included 493 women from Project Viva, which followed participants from early pregnancy through their 50s. The study controlled for a variety of factors, including maternal age, body mass index, race, ethnicity, and dietary habits.
However, the study has limitations. It is observational, meaning the researchers cannot definitively establish cause-and-effect relationships. The participants were primarily white women from eastern Massachusetts, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Additionally, the study did not track metal levels between pregnancy and midlife, so the results may not fully reflect the long-term impact of mineral levels.
In conclusion, this research adds valuable evidence that higher levels of essential metals during pregnancy may have a protective effect on blood pressure in middle age, which could inform future preventive strategies for women’s cardiovascular health.
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