The study by American researchers highlights the importance of focusing on nutrition before conceiving.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common disorders of pregnancy and can harm both the pregnant person and the developing fetus. Taking antihypertensive medications during pregnancy can also cause possible adverse effects on the growing fetus. Therefore, researchers focused on opportunities to prevent preeclampsia through modifiable factors such as nutrition.
"Our findings underscore the importance of dietary intake of calcium and zinc before conception to potentially reduce the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy," said Liping Lu, who conducted the research as a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University and is now assistant professor at Ball State University.
"Higher intake of zinc and calcium before conception, derived from diet and supplements, is associated with a lower risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy."
The researchers based the findings on two separate studies with 7,700 pregnant women across the United States.
Women in the highest quintile of calcium intake before conception were 24 percent less likely to experience hypertensive disorders during pregnancy compared to those in the lowest quintile.
Regarding zinc, those with a higher zinc intake before conception were 38 percent less likely to experience hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than those with a lower zinc intake.
As for observational studies, Lu noted that the results do not necessarily prove causality. However, the findings align with other studies that have linked higher intakes of the two minerals with a lower risk of hypertension-related diseases outside of pregnancy.
The findings will be presented at NUTRITION 2024, the American Society for Nutrition's flagship annual meeting taking place June 29-July 2 in Chicago.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common disorders of pregnancy and can harm both the pregnant person and the developing fetus. Taking antihypertensive medications during pregnancy can also cause possible adverse effects on the growing fetus. Therefore, researchers focused on opportunities to prevent preeclampsia through modifiable factors such as nutrition.
"Our findings underscore the importance of dietary intake of calcium and zinc before conception to potentially reduce the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy," said Liping Lu, who conducted the research as a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University and is now assistant professor at Ball State University.
"Higher intake of zinc and calcium before conception, derived from diet and supplements, is associated with a lower risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy."
The researchers based the findings on two separate studies with 7,700 pregnant women across the United States.
Women in the highest quintile of calcium intake before conception were 24 percent less likely to experience hypertensive disorders during pregnancy compared to those in the lowest quintile.
Regarding zinc, those with a higher zinc intake before conception were 38 percent less likely to experience hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than those with a lower zinc intake.
As for observational studies, Lu noted that the results do not necessarily prove causality. However, the findings align with other studies that have linked higher intakes of the two minerals with a lower risk of hypertension-related diseases outside of pregnancy.
The findings will be presented at NUTRITION 2024, the American Society for Nutrition's flagship annual meeting taking place June 29-July 2 in Chicago.
