Impacting at least 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies, pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure, swelling caused by fluid retention, and loss of protein in the urine. Its potentially fatal symptoms can progress quickly, making this condition a leading cause of maternal death.
Typically occurring in the late second or third trimester of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia is a mystery to many conventional doctors. However, some practitioners suggest that it's a disease of maternal malnutrition. This condition has been linked with low levels of vitamins C and D and omega-3 fatty acids. A recent study links this condition with a low antioxidant status.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 pregnant women with low antioxidant status, women received either supplements containing antioxidants (vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E, folic acid, N-acetylcysteine, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, calcium, and selenium) or just iron and folic acid for the duration of their pregnancies.
With two cases of pre-eclampsia in the supplementation group, compared to nine cases in the control group, researchers concluded, "Antioxidant supplementation was associated with better maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnant women with low antioxidant status than control supplementation with iron and folate alone." Study authors also note that pre-eclampsia can be detected in 33 percent of asymptomatic cases in the first trimester by measuring antioxidant levels.
SELECTED SOURCES
Blue Ribbon Baby Pages, www.blueribbonbaby.org "Lower Rate of Pre-eclampsia after Antioxidant Supplementation in Pregnant Women with Low Antioxidant Status" by D. Rumiris et al., Hypertens Pregnancy, 2006 Pre-eclampsia Foundation, www.pre-eclampsia.org
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