Prevention of pre-eclampsia

Multiparity is associated with a three-fold reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia compared to the first pregnancy.

• aspirin
• diet
  • however there is no clear evidence that advising pregnant women to increase their energy intake, providing energy or protein supplements, or prescribing a low energy diet to overweight women protects against pre-eclampsia. Also unclear is whether advice to reduce dietary salt intake during pregnancy has any impact (1)
• the long chain unsatturated fatty acids in fish oil appear to shift platelet reactivity from aggregation to inhibition by favouring the synthesis of thromboxane A3 and prostacyclin I3 from eicosapentaenoic acid rather than thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin I2 from arachidonic acid
• there is evidence that calcium supplementation during pregnancy reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the incidence of pre-eclampsia and of hypertension

Reference:

1. BMJ. 2006 Feb 25;332(7539):463-8.