Adding a daily multi-vitamin may significantly reduce the risk of a potentially serious complication in pregnant women. A condition called preeclampsia which includes high blood pressure and fluid retention affects at least 10% of pregnant women in the U.S. each year. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood which can result in insufficient air and food for the baby. This can lead to low birth weight and other problems for the baby.
In a study conducted and reported by University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, results showed that regular use of multi-vitamins prior to conception was associated with a 45% reduction in the risk of preeclampsia. The results were independent of factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and physical activity before pregnancy. However, only lean women who became pregnant with a BMI of less than 25 experienced the risk reduction from multivitamin use. Study participants who were overweight at the time of their pregnancy saw no reduction of preeclampsia by taking multivitamins which indicates that other factors block the benefits for overweight women.
Regular use of a multi-vitamin around the time of conception has already been associated with a reduced risk of having babies with neural tube defects like spina bifida.
SOURCE: American Journal Epidemiology, August 2006
One would ask why overweight women do not receive the same protection from this condition as those women that are slimmer. Even though the study doesn’t offer any answers, it may be valuable to remember that when you are overweight the following symptoms and risks may elevate during pregnancy: diabetes or blood sugar dysfunction, high blood pressure, sensitized auto immune system, poorer nutrition health, and those symptoms related to a lack of exercise.
In other words, your health and well-being before your pregnancy may be just as important as how you take care of yourself during your pregnancy. Please tune in to this month’s authors for more information on Pregnancy and Baby Care at Benzinger On Health.
God Bless,
Dr. Benzinger
