Positive Health Online

Abstract

CLAUSEN and colleagues, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, torun.clausen@ioks.uio.no, investigated whether diet in the first half of pregnancy is associated with the risk for pre-eclampsia.

Background

Pre-eclampsia is associated with high body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridaemia.

Methodology

In this prospective, population-based, cohort study, 3,133 women (83% response rate) completed a quantitative food frequency questionnaire investigating their dietary intake early in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Results

85 of the women developed pre-eclampsia. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for pre-eclampsia was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-8.9) for energy intake of >3,350 kcal/day compared with 2,000 kcal/day. The adjusted OR for pre-eclampsia was 3.6 (95% CI, 1.3-9.8) for sucrose intake (% of total energy) of >25% compared with 8.5%, and was 2.6 (95% CI, 1.3-5.4) for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intake (% of total energy) of >7.5% compared with 5.2%. Other energy-providing nutrients were not associated with the risk for pre-eclampsia.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that high intakes of energy, sucrose and PUFAs independently increase the risk for pre-eclampsia.

References

Clausen T et al. High intake of energy, sucrose, and polyunsaturated fatty acids is associated with increased risk of preeclampsia. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 185 (2): 451-8. Aug 2001.