Multivitamins May Lower Preeclampsia Risk

Results from a large study show that regular use of a multivitamin supplement in the months before and during pregnancy may reduce the risk of preeclampsia by as much as 71%.
Read more about this research below.

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy associated with high blood pressure and excessive swelling of arms and legs. If untreated, the condition can progress to eclampsia, a condition characterized by seizures, coma, and possible death of the mother or child. In a recent study, lean women who used multivitamins before and during their pregnancies had their risk of preeclampsia reduced by 45-71 percent.

Research included 1,835 pregnant women enrolled in the Pregnancy Exposures and Preeclampsia Prevention Study. All women were at less than 16 weeks' gestation and were asked whether they regularly used multivitamins or prenatal vitamins in the past six months. Women that reported use of a multivitamin or prenatal during the previous six months had a 45 percent lower risk of preeclampsia than non-users. The reduction in risk was more significant among lean women. When lean women were analyzed separately, those who used multivitamins had a 71 percent lower risk of preeclampsia than nonusers.

These results suggest that regular use of a multivitamin supplement in the months before and during pregnancy may help prevent preeclampsia, particularly among lean women.

Bodnar LM, et al. Periconceptional multivitamin use reduces the risk of preeclampsia. 2006. Am J Epidemiol 164(5):470-7.

During Pregnancy, Low–Glycemic Diets Improve Health Outcomes in Obese Women & Their Infants

A new study shows that a low-glycemic load diet in overweight and obese pregnant women results in longer pregnancy duration, greater infant head circumference, and improved maternal cardiovascular risk factors.
Read more about this research below.

Excess body weight is known to complicate pregnancies, but the optimal diet during pregnancy is currently unknown. New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition aimed to examine the effects of a low–glycemic load (low-GL) diet in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Researchers randomly assigned 46 overweight or obese pregnant women to receive a low-GL or a low-fat diet. The women received carbohydrate-rich foods, fats, and snack foods through home delivery or study visits. Birth weight, infant body measurements, gestational duration, maternal weight gain, and maternal metabolic parameters were measured.

No significant differences in birth weight or measures of infant body fat were seen between the two groups. However, in the low-GL compared with the low-fat group, gestational duration was significantly longer and fewer deliveries occurred at less than 38.0 weeks (13% versus 48%). Adjusted head circumference was greater in the low-GL versus the low-fat group. Women in the low-GL group had smaller increases in triglycerides and total cholesterol and a greater decrease in C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).
In this study, a low-GL diet correlated with longer pregnancy duration, greater infant head circumference, and improved maternal cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers suggest that large-scale studies may be useful in determining whether a low-GL diet may be beneficial in the prevention of prematurity and other unfavorable maternal and infant outcomes.

Rhodes ET, et al. Effects of a low–glycemic load diet in overweight and obese pregnant women: a pilot randomized controlled trial. 2010. Am J Clin Nutr 92(6):1306-15.

Magnesium Reduces Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Women

A recent study involving a large group of women studied over 26 years found that those with the highest magnesium intake (and corresponding plasma levels) had a 41% lower risk of sudden cardiac death.

Magnesium has beneficial cardiovascular properties in cellular and experimental models, but its relation to sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in humans is unclear.

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the association between magnesium, as measured in diet and plasma, and risk of SCD. The association for magnesium intake was examined prospectively in 88,375 women who were free of disease in 1980 and part of the Nurses’ Health Study. Information on magnesium intake, other nutrients, and lifestyle factors was updated every 2–4 years through questionnaires. In this group of women, there were 505 cases of sudden or arrhythmic death documented over 26 years of follow-up.

After adjustment for confounders and potential intermediaries, the relative risk of SCD was significantly lower in women in the highest quartile of both dietary intake and plasma levels of magnesium (when compared to those in the lowest quartile). The inverse relation with SCD was stronger for plasma magnesium than dietary intake of magnesium, with each 0.25 mg/dL (one standard deviation) increment in plasma magnesium associated with a 41% lower risk of SCD.

In this study group of women, higher plasma concentrations and dietary intakes of magnesium were associated with lower risks of SCD. The researchers stated that if the observation is causal, interventions aimed at increasing dietary or plasma magnesium might lower the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Chiuve SE, et al. Plasma and dietary magnesium and risk of sudden cardiac death in women. 2011. Am J Clin Nutr 93(2):253-260.

Pregnancy Complications may be Related to Low Vitamin D Levels

Early-onset severe preeclampsia occurs in roughly 2 to 3 percent of pregnancies, and it contributes to about 15 percent of preterm births in the U.S. each year. New research shows that pregnant women with low vitamin D levels are at higher risk for this condition.

Studies have linked low vitamin D levels to an increased risk of many diseases, including type 1 diabetes, asthma, heart disease, certain cancers and depression. A new study has found that women who develop a severe form of pregnancy-related high blood pressure tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin D than healthy pregnant women.

Preeclampsia is a syndrome marked by a sudden increase in blood pressure and kidney dysfunction. Early-onset severe preeclampsia is a particularly serious form that arises before the 34th week of pregnancy.

In a recent study, researchers compared vitamin D levels in 50 women with early severe preeclampsia to vitamin D levels of 100 healthy pregnant women. The average vitamin D level in the preeclampsia group was 18 ng/mL compared to an average of 32 ng/mL in the healthy group. A 10 ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels was linked to a 63 percent reduction in risk of the complication.

Since total Vitamin D levels in the blood seem to be linked to an increase in this pregnancy complication, further study is needed to understand the impact of vitamin D deficiency on pregnancy outcomes.

Robinson CJ, Alanis MC, Wagner CL, et al. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in early-onset severe preeclampsia. 2010. Am J Obstet Gynecol 203:ePub ahead of print.

What USANA Products for Pregnant or Breast-feeding Women?

The Essentials can serve as an excellent prenatal multivitamin. Proper amounts of folic acid, zinc, and other important vitamins and minerals are all present in this product.

It is important for women who are planning to become pregnant (and those who are currently pregnant) to consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day. A full daily dosage of the Essentials provides 1,000 mcg of folic acid. If a mother does not have adequate intake of folic acid within the first few months of pregnancy, the fetus may develop neural tube defects (such as spina bifida). Studies show that taking at least 400 mcg of folic acid can reduce the risk of these birth defects by as much as 70%.

It is important for every expectant mother to ask a doctor about taking an iron supplement, as iron is not included in the Essentials. During pregnancy, women should generally supplement with somewhere between 28 and 90 mg of elemental iron per day, depending on their needs.

Research has also shown that essential fatty acids are critical for developing babies. It may be a good idea to supplement with BiOmega during pregnancy. Before taking any additional or different supplements, discuss them fully with your doctor, as it is important to protect the growing baby and mother.

READ VERY CAREFULLY - The following products, taken as directed, are strongly recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating:

* Essentials
* Active Calcium
* BiOmega

The following products, taken as directed, are generally recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating, based on individual needs:

* USANA Foods (Nutrimeal, Nutrition Bar, Fibergy)

The following products, taken as directed, are recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating ONLY on the advice of a physician:

* HealthPak
* Proflavanol & Proflavanol 90
* E-Prime
* Poly C
* Ginkgo-PS
* Visionex

The following products are NOT generally for use by pregnant or lactating women:

* CoQuinone 30
* Hepasil DTX
* Procosa II
* PhytoEstrin
* Palmetto Plus