Objective: To explore the relation between preeclampsia risk and maternal intake of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Study design: We conducted a case-control study of 172 preeclamptics and 339 normotensive controls. Maternal dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate the association between each dietary factor and preeclampsia risk.
Results: Fiber intake was inversely associated with the risk of preeclampsia. When extreme quartiles of total fiber intake were compared, the odds ratio (OR) for preeclampsia was 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.92). The multivariate OR for preeclampsia for women in the top quartile of potassium intake (> 4.1 g/d) versus the lowest quartile (< 2.4 g/d) was 0.49 (95% CI 0.24-0.99). There was some evidence ofa reduced risk of preeclampsia with a high intake of magnesium and calcium, though these results were not statistically significant. Intake offruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, total cereal and dark bread were each associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia.
Conclusion: Our results support previous reports that suggest that diets high in fiber and potassium are associated with a reduced risk of hypertension. Maternal intake of recommended amounts of foods rich in fiber, potassium and other nutrients may reduce the risk of preeclampsia.