Can high blood pressure during pregnancy be due to your diet?

This study investigated whether diet influences high blood pressure during pregnancy. 

High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls is too high. High blood pressure is often a complication of pregnancy, called gestational hypertension.

High blood pressure can also cause proteinuria during pregnancy, which is protein in urine (a sign of kidney damage). High blood pressure from around 20 weeks of pregnancy with proteinuria is called pre-eclampsia. Symptoms may include swelling in feet and face, severe headache and vision problems.

Why some women develop gestational hypertension pre-eclampsia during pregnancy is unknown, however, a woman’s diet and nutrition intake during pregnancy has been suggested to play an important role. 

This study carried out a review of studies that examined diets, energy and nutrition intake during pregnancy and investigated whether they had an effect on the occurrence of gestational hypertension and/or pre-eclampsia.

A total of 16 studies were included in the review. It was found that pregnant women who developed gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia had on average 46 kcal/day higher energy intake, compared to those who did not develop hypertension problems.

Pregnant women who developed gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia also had, on average, 8 mg/day lower magnesium intake and 44 mg/day lower calcium intake, compared to those who did not develop hypertension. Higher calcium intake was shown to lower the odds of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia by 24%.

Other studies also suggested that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of pre-eclampisa.

The study concluded that higher energy, and lower magnesium and calcium intake during pregnancy were associated with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

This review only included a limited number of studies and patients who obtained their nutrition from dietary supplements alone were excluded.  

If you or someone you know are pregnant, talk to a doctor or dietician about maintaining a healthy diet to reduce the chances of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy.