[Pre-eclampsia: role of excessive caloric intake]

Abstract

Objective: To compare the average daily diet of women having physiologic pregnancy versus patients presenting preeclampsia (PE) in order to evaluate if increased caloric intake is associated with preeclampsia.

Methodology: The macronutrients and kilocalories in measurements obtained from diaries filled in over a seven day period by 147 pregnant women (30 preeclamptics, 117 with physiologic pregnancy were compared (the proportion of about 1/4 between the two groups was chosen to increase the statistical efficacy, because this pathology is rather unfrequent).

Results: The analysis of the diaries shows that the preeclamptic women consume, every day a greater quantity (p < 0.05) of kilocalories, proteins and lipids than the physiologic pregnancy. No statistically significant difference was found for fibres and carbohydrates (the last ones recorded without distinguish mono and disaccharides from polysaccharides). Physiologic pregnancy mean Body Mass Index is 21.6 versus 26.4 of PE women (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Intake of energy, protein and lipid were positively associated with risk of PE. Overweight patients are highly at risk of contracting PE. These data, according to others trials confirm the advisability: 1) to analyse the diet of pregnant women; 2) to reduce nutritional intake, if in excess, first of all, in women at risk of PE; 3) to suggest loosing weight to overweight patients before initiating a pregnancy.