321 Dietary fiber intake in relation to risk of preeclampsia

Abstract

DIETARY FIBER INTAKE IN RELATION TO RISK OF PREECLAMPSIA IHUNNAYA FREDERICK l, TANYA SORENSEN l, CUILIN ZHANG 1, DAVID LUTHY 1, MICHELLE W1LLIAMSL 1Swedish Medical Center, Center to t Perinatal Studies, Seattle, WA OBJECTIVE: Observational studies conducted among various populations have d o c m n e n t e d an inverse relat ionship between fiber intake and blood pressure. Results frmn metabolic studies and randomized trials corroborate and extend these findings by demonstrat ing that increased fiber intake results in improved lipid profiles and glucose tolerance. Given these observations, and tile fact that data concerning the relation of fiber intake to risk of preeclampsia (PE) are sparse and inconclusive, we explored the extent to which, if at all, maternal fiber intake was associated with the risk of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional case-control study of 172 women with PE and 339 controls. Maternal intake of f iber (total fiber, insoluble and soluble fiber, respectively') dur ing pregnancy was assessed using a previously validated, self-administered, 121-item, senri-quantitative tood fl-equency questionnaire. RESULTS: Median total daily fiber intake was significantly lower among PE cases as compared witla controls (16.2 vs. 19.2 g /d , P= .005). Relative to women in the lowest quartile of total fiber intake ( 24.3 g /d ) experienced a 46% reduction in PE risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.54: 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.92). This association was sustained after adjustment for confounding by total energy intake, maternal age, parity, household income and pre-pregnancy obesity (OR = 0.49: 95% CI: 0.24-1.00). Both soluble and insoluble fiber contr ibuted to a reduction in PE risk, though the association was slightly s tronger for soluble fiber. CONCLUSION: These data are consistent with a large body of data from epidemiological, clinical and animal studies tlmt suggest that high fiber intake may reduce the risk of hypertension. 323 December 2001 Am J Obstet Gynecol