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Eating fiber is good for all of us, but it may be especially good for pregnant women. We have results of a promising study.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (proteinuria). The symptoms typically appear after the 20th week of pregnancy. Other signs may include: swelling in the face, hands or feet, sudden weight gain, headache, nausea or vomiting, vision problems (like blurred vision, temporary vision loss or sensitivity to light) and pain in the upper abdomen. In serious cases, it can affect the function of the woman’s kidneys, liver or brain. If the condition isn’t treated, the woman may be at risk for seizure, brain hemorrhage, kidney failure, heart failure and death. Preeclampsia can interfere with the ability to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the baby through the placenta, causing intrauterine growth restriction. Risks to the infant include: preterm delivery, low birth weight and stillbirth.
The Preeclampsia Foundation estimates preeclampsia occurs in 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies. The cause isn’t known. Risk is higher during a first pregnancy, in women over 40 or under 18, women who are overweight, those with a personal or family history of preeclampsia, and women with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus or other autoimmune disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome and a long period of time between pregnancies.
Treating Preeclampsia
The only known cure for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. If the pregnancy is near term, doctors may induce labor, or if the symptoms are severe, schedule a cesarean section. For pregnancies that are less than 37 weeks, doctors may try to reduce the effects of the condition and buy a little more time for the baby to develop. Some women will be placed in the hospital to closely monitor the health of the mom and fetus. Home bed rest may be offered as an alternative in some cases. Women who are on bed rest have very restricted activity levels and require frequent physician visits to monitor for health problems.
Fiber and Preeclampsia
Researchers in Seattle are trying to determine what factors influence the development of preeclampsia. That information may lead to better methods of preventing the condition. Currently, the investigators are looking at the role of dietary fiber. More than 1,500 pregnant women were surveyed for diet intake in the three months before pregnancy and through early pregnancy. The researchers found women who ate at least 21.2 grams of fiber per day were 72 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia as those who followed low fiber diets (less than 11.9 grams of fiber/day). The researchers also found that adding an extra 5 grams of fiber a day (about the equivalent of two slices of whole wheat bread) reduced the risk of preeclampsia by 14 percent.
AUDIENCE INQUIRY
For general information on preeclampsia:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp034.cfm
American Pregnancy Association, http://www.americanpregnancy.org
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, http://www.nichd.nih.gov
Preeclampsia Foundation, http://www.preeclampsia.org
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