No one knows exactly what causes pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition also known as toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). However, significant research has indicated that poor nutrition often plays a role in the genesis and onset of this alarmingly common pregnancy condition, which can cause serious complications for both the mother and baby. A healthy diet packed with key essential nutrients can prevent or treat pre-eclampsia.
Pregnancy Nutrition: How Vitamin D can Prevent Pre-Eclampsia
The University of Pittsburgh thoroughly studied the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and pre-eclampsia, in a wide-spread study that took place from 1997 to 2001. The study concluded that women who were deficient in this key fat-soluble vitamin were significantly more likely to develop pre-eclampsia and the dangerous symptoms associated with it.
Pregnant women can include healthy levels of vitamin D in their diets by taking supplements, drinking significant quantities of fortified milk or soymilk and eating cultured dairy products like cheese and yogurt. Fatty fish species like salmon and herring also offer significant amounts of vitamin D-- plus an omega-3 boost that can enhance baby's brain and prevent postpartum depression.
Calcium in a Pregnancy Diet can Ease Pre-Eclampsia Symptoms
Numerous studies of calcium supplementation in pregnancy have concluded that calcium itself does little to prevent the onset of pre-eclapsia. However, there is significant peer-reviewed data suggesting that women who consume calcium supplements have fewer symptoms of pre-eclampsia, and are less likely to develop complications that can be dangerous to the mother or baby.
Fortunately, for women who have, or are at risk for, pre-eclampsia, calcium can be obtained through many of the same food sources as vitamin D-- namely, dairy products and food-grade calcium-complex supplements. Aside from dairy products, other calcium-rich foods include most types of greens, as well as turnips, rutabagas, broccoli, oranges, and figs.
Trace Minerals like Selenium Can be Forgotten in a Pregnancy Diet
Most pregnant women pay attention to their "big name" nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, but forget trace minerals such as selenium and copper. One important study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggested that selenium deficiency is a common, primary culprit in the nutritional causes of pre-eclampsia. Women who are at risk for pre-eclampsia should maintain adequate intake of selenium, as well as other commonly forgotten minerals.
If taken in excess, selenium can be dangerous, but it is still important to include it in the diet. When taken as directed, selenium supplements can help to prevent pre-eclampsia, and dietary sources of the trace element include brazil nuts, organ meats, tuna, and some shellfish. Eggs and cereals might also guarantee adequate levels of selenium in the diet.
Does a High-Protein Diet Prevent Pre-Eclampsia?
For decades, many doctors and midwives attributed pre-eclampsia to a woman having too little protein in her diet. This has led many health care providers to issue a blanket recommendation that expectant mothers maintain a daily protein intake of no less than forty grams per day. Some pregnancy diets, such as the popular Brewer Pregnancy Diet, actually claim that 80-100 is necessary in maintaining proper health for the baby.
However, more recent studies have concluded that maternal protein intake actually has little, if anything, to do with the incidence of pre-eclampsia. While a high-protein pregnancy diet may be necessary in some cases, it will not necessarily play a role in preventing pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia can be a dangerous and very uncomfortable condition, but it may be preventable with a healthy pre-pregnancy diet and a healthy diet continued throughout gestation. With prescribed supplements, balanced nutrition, and a general state of good health, pre-eclampsia can be both preventable and fully manageable.
Resources:
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology. 'Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia.' September 2007.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "Low selenium status is associated with the occurrence of the pregnancy disease preeclampsia in women from the United Kingdom." November 2003.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "World Health Organization randomized trial of calcium supplementation among low calcium intake pregnant women." March 2006.
Juniper Russo - Juniper Russo is a natural health consultant and freelance writer native to the southern United States. Outside of Suite101, Russo's ...
