Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy reduces the risk of developing preeclampsia, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.¹

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard examined data of 8507 women who were part of the Boston Birth Cohort and were recruited from 1998 and 2016. Black women comprised the largest group in this study at 47%, while 28% were Hispanic. The median age of the participants was 25 years, the objective of the study was to investigate the impact of a Mediterranean‐style diet on preeclampsia. The main components of a Mediterranean diet include vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, olive oil, whole grains and fish. Dietary information was obtained from questionnaires; the participants were also interviewed to calculate the Mediterranean-style diet score within 3 days of delivery.

Data analysis showed that 848 women included in the study developed preeclampsia. The risk of preeclampsia was 2-folds higher in subjects with pre-pregnancy diabetes and obesity. Women who ate a Mediterranean style diet were less likely to develop preeclampsia; their risk reduced by more than 20%. The risk increased by 72% in women who scored the lowest on Mediterranean-style diet scores. The benefit of a Mediterranean-style diet was also seen in Black participants, who are at higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

This study illustrates the protective effect of a Mediterranean‐style diet against preeclampsia. “The only definitive “cure” is delivery”, though women are at risk of developing it again in a subsequent pregnancy.² The risk of medication use during pregnancy has to be very carefully considered. A healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet coupled with regular physical activity, is crucial to prevent pregnancy-related complications, which may have an adverse effect on maternal as well as fetal health and is potentially life-threatening for both mother and her child.

References

1. Minhas AS, et al. Mediterranean-style diet and risk of preeclampsia by race in the Boston Birth Cohort. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Apr 20;e022589. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022589.
2. Duley L, et al. Management of pre-eclampsia. BMJ. 2006 Feb 25;332(7539):463-8.