Antenatal care: nutrition and calcium: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Antenatal care: nutrition and calcium

Sample item

To reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in women with low dietary calcium intake, which supplementation is recommended by WHO?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. 1.5 to 2 g elemental calcium daily from 20 weeks

WHO recommends 1.5 to 2 g of elemental calcium daily from 20 weeks to delivery in populations with low calcium intake to reduce pre-eclampsia. India's national guideline gives 500 mg calcium twice daily from the second trimester through lactation.

Option by option

  • A. 5 g calcium daily in divided doses

    5 g daily exceeds safe limits and causes constipation and hypercalciuria.

  • B. 1.5 to 2 g elemental calcium daily from 20 weeks (correct)

    Correct. This is the WHO dose in low-intake settings.

  • C. Calcium should be avoided in pregnancy

    Calcium supplementation is recommended.

  • D. 200 mg calcium daily in the first trimester

    This dose is far too low to affect pre-eclampsia risk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is B, 1.5 to 2 g elemental calcium daily from 20 weeks. WHO recommends 1.

Why is "5 g calcium daily in divided doses" not the answer?

5 g daily exceeds safe limits and causes constipation and hypercalciuria.

Why is "Calcium should be avoided in pregnancy" not the answer?

Calcium supplementation is recommended.

Why is "200 mg calcium daily in the first trimester" not the answer?

This dose is far too low to affect pre-eclampsia risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antenatal care: nutrition and calcium in OBG. 5 to 2 g of elemental calcium daily from 20 weeks to delivery in populations with low calcium intake to reduce pre-eclampsia. India's national guideline gives 500 mg calcium twice daily from the second trimester through lactation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antenatal care: nutrition and calcium?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.