Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Preeclampsia Risk During Pregnancy-Consumer Health News

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 (HealthDay News)-A Mediterranean-style diet is known to help protect the heart, and new studies are now showing the risk of life-threatening pre-eclampsia in pregnant mothers. It is suggested that can be lowered.

Characterized by a sudden surge in blood pressure, protein in the urine, or other problems during pregnancy, Eclampsia If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems for mothers and babies. This condition also increases the risk of heart disease in later women.

Traditional heart health Mediterranean diet Rich in healthy fats such as fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, whole grains, legumes and olive oil.

New studies are not designed to determine how this style of diet reduces or reduces the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. I just found the association. However, researchers have some theories about how it does so.

“Several studies show that the Mediterranean diet may be reduced. Oxidative stress The author of the study, Dr. Anam Minhas, is a Fellow in Cardiology, Cardiology, and Advanced Imaging at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Constriction of blood vessels around the uterus during pregnancy can be the cause. High blood pressure.

“This diet can also reduce weight gain during pregnancy,” Minhas said. Women who gain weight during pregnancy may be at increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

This study focused on more than 8,500 women in the Boston region who were part of a broader study of pregnancy, infancy, and child health.Some were in danger Premature birth, Overlaps with pre-eclampsia. Black women accounted for almost half of the study participants.

Researchers scored each woman based on how close she was to the Mediterranean diet.

In total, 10% developed pre-eclampsia. However, the study found that women who consumed a more rigorous Mediterranean diet during pregnancy had a 22% lower risk, and this risk reduction was even greater for pregnant black women. Black women are at increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

“Black women who adhere most to the Mediterranean diet have a much lower risk of pre-eclampsia, which may be effective for women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. We further support the idea of ​​having sex, “says Minhas.

She and her colleagues plan to continue combining the data to see how this dietary style reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia. They also want to conduct randomized controlled trials comparing a Mediterranean diet with another diet among women at risk for pre-eclampsia.

Very few Treatment of pre-eclampsia It is safe and also produces meaningful benefits. The only cure is to give birth to a baby, which often leads to premature birth.

“This is one of the reasons we are excited about the results because the Mediterranean diet is beneficial and safe for mothers and babies,” says Minhas.

Currently, women at risk for pre-eclampsia are usually treated with baby aspirin and closely monitored. The researchers did not track whether the women in the study took aspirin daily.

The survey results were released on April 20th. Journal of the American Heart Association..

Dr. Mitchell Kramer, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Huntington Hospital in Huntington, NY, reviewed the findings.

Pre-eclampsia is a major health problem for pregnant women in the United States, he said.

“It affects disproportionately to the women of color and the unfavorable socio-economic background,” Kramer said.

These women often do not follow a healthy and balanced diet due to lack of access to diet, income and education.

“A community of obstetric care providers says that a healthy diet consisting of fresh foods, low salt, fruits, vegetables, lean meat, nuts, legumes and healthy oils will benefit pregnant women and fetuses. I’ve always felt that this study encourages pregnant women, especially those in this study, to follow this Mediterranean diet. “

For more information

The American Heart Association Mediterranean diet..

Sources: Anum Minhas, MD, Chief Cardiology Fellow, and Cardiac Obstetrics and Advanced Imaging Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Mitchell Kramer, MD, President of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Huntington Hospital, Huntington, NY. Journal of the American Heart AssociationApril 20, 2022