Abstract

Background: During pregnancy, calcium deficiency has become a frequent phenomenon. Calcium intake is essential for supporting maternal and fetal health to maintain calcium homeostasis and promotes bone formation. Anchovy is a high calcium source from marine. The anchovy diet impact on fetal development during pregnancy is inconclusive. Therefore, Anchovy Calcium Extract (ACE) effect on calcium homeostasis and bone formation was studied. Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats were grouped into three: without ACE administration, with ACE administration prior to mating until two weeks post-labor and with ACE administration after pregnancy confirmation until two weeks post-labor. Blood calcium levels and bone hardness were measured. Result: ACE improved maternal's and offspring's calcium levels. ACE also provided adequate blood calcium levels during pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding. In addition, ACE improve maternal bone firmness but has no significant effect on its offspring. In conclusion, ACE has excellent potential as a dietary supplement to promote adequate calcium requirements for maternal and infant health.