Study: Mineral and Vitamin Levels in Pregnancy Linked to Midlife Blood Pressure

Higher levels of vitamin B12 and the minerals copper and manganese during pregnancy are related to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to findings presented at the 2025 American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention Scientific Sessions.^1,2

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Impact of Copper, Manganese, and Vitamin B12

Metals like manganese, selenium, magnesium, and copper are essential and promote healthiness throughout the body due to their anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory properties.^1,2 Additionally, previous research has demonstrated that vitamin B12 combined with folic acid could prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels, as it reduces the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood.³

“People are constantly exposed to heavy metals and trace elements, and much research has shown that exposure to those metals and elements may have an impact on cardiovascular health, especially hypertension,” lead study author Mingyu Zhang, PhD, MHS, an epidemiologist and instructor in medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, said in a news release. “In our study, we wanted to examine how levels of essential metals and elements during pregnancy may affect blood pressure and hypertension risk in midlife.”²

Pregnancy Micronutrient Levels and Reduced Midlife Hypertension Risk

Using data from an ongoing, long-term study that started in 1999, Project Viva included 493 women and their children who resided in eastern Massachusetts. The study evaluated the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors during pregnancy on the short- and long-term health of women and their children. Blood samples were collected during enrollment in the study that allowed researchers to assess non-essential metals such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury, and lead, as well as essential minerals like copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and zinc, along with folate and vitamin B12.^1,2

In the assessment, researchers conducted a midlife follow-up on the same participants between 2017 and 2021, who were a median age of 51.2 years, to evaluate the impact the metals had on blood pressure.^1,2

After accounting for sociodemographic factors, the results demonstrated that a doubling of copper levels in the blood during pregnancy was associated with a 25% lower risk of high blood pressure in midlife, and a doubling of manganese levels was linked to a 20% lower risk. Furthermore, a doubling of vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy corresponded to an average reduction of 3.64 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 2.52 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure nearly 2 decades later. Although, the study authors noted that the majority of participants had vitamin B12 levels within the normal range.^1,2

“Circulating levels of these metals and minerals in blood were measured; however, the sources of exposure, such as food or dietary supplements, were not quantified, so these findings should not be interpreted as recommendations,” Zhang said in a news release.²

Additionally, higher blood levels of a combination of copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc during pregnancy were associated with lower blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner, whereas nonessential metals did not show a significant impact on blood pressure.^1,2

“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 later life," Zhang concluded. "More research, including clinical trials, is needed to determine the optimal dietary intake of these minerals and micronutrients.”²

REFERENCES

1. American Heart Association. Levels of select vitamins & minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife BP risk. Published March 6, 2025. Accessed April 23, 2025. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/levels-of-select-vitamins-minerals-in-pregnancy-may-be-linked-to-lower-midlife-bp-risk?preview=0b65&preview_mode=True

2. Levels of select vitamins & minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife BP risk. EuerkAlert. News release. March 6, 2025. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1075585

3. Mayo Clinic. Vitamin B-12. Published June 28, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-b12/art-20363663