Association between preconception dietary fiber intake and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

Abstract

Objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate whether preconception dietary fiber intake is associated with new-onset HDP.

Study design: We identified 84,873 (primipara, 33,712; multipara, 51,161) normotensive participants from the Japan Environmental Children's Study database who delivered between 2011 and 2014. The participants were subsequently categorized into five groups based on their preconception dietary fiber intake quintiles (Q1-Q5).

Main outcome measures: The main obstetric outcome was HDP, and the secondary obstetric outcomes included early-onset (Eo, <34 weeks)-HDP, late-onset (Lo, ≥34 weeks)-HDP, small for gestational age (SGA) births, and HDP with/without SGA.

Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that in primiparas, the risks of HDP, Lo-HDP, and HDP without SGA were lower in the Q5 group compared with the Q3 group (HDP: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.73, 95 % confidence intervals [95 % CI] = 0.58-0.93; Lo-HDP: aOR = 0.72, 95 % CI = 0.55-0.94; and HDP without SGA: aOR = 0.68, 95 % CI = 0.53-0.88). However, the risks of Eo-HDP and HDP with SGA were higher in the Q1 group compared with the Q3 group (Eo-HDP: aOR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.02-2.70; and HDP with SGA: aOR = 1.81, 95 % CI = 1.04-3.17). In multiparas, the risks of Lo-HDP and SGA were higher in the Q1 group compared with the Q3 group (Lo-HDP: aOR = 1.47, 95 % CI = 1.10-1.97; SGA: aOR = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.35).

Conclusions: Preconception dietary fiber intake is beneficial in preventing HDP onset. Therefore, new recommendations should be considered to encourage higher dietary fiber intake as part of preconception care.

Keywords: Birth cohort study; Dietary fiber intake; Gut microbiota; Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Preconception care; Preeclampsia.