High-fibre plant-based diet may help lower pre-eclampsia risk
The findings point to the potential role of acetate, say Aussie researchers
11th July 2019
Australian researchers have shown in pregnant women that reduced levels of acetate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by fibre fermentation in the gut, is associated with pre-eclampsia.
The findings suggest that a mother’s gut bacteria could affect the outcome of pregnancies, leading the authors to recommend optimising a plant-based, high-fibre diet.
Lead author Professor Ralph Nanan says the simple recommendation to 'eat real food, mostly plants, and not too much' might be the most effective primary prevention strategy for pre-eclampsia.
