Nutrition, immune system and preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a syndrome characterized by common downstream signs of a variety of patho-physiologic conditions: Elevation in maternal blood pressure, decline in renal function and progressive multi-organ dysfunction.The theory used to explain the origin of this disease is that inadeguate uteroplacental vascular remodelling leads to decreased placental blood flow that over time results in placental hypoxia and ischemia.This well know explicatory pathway does not cover the whole range of conditions that might cause elevated blood pressure in pregnancy and related organ damages.It appears to be the less frequent yet the most intriguing aspect of human placental reproduction.Current evidence on the association between dietary factors and the whole array of clinical phenotypes of preeclampsia is limited; serum nutrient levels, such as elevated polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreased vitamin C and E, zinc and iron, have been associated with increased inflammation, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia; on the other side data suggest that higher calcium and magnesium intake and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables may be beneficial to reduce the risk.Although this mechanism appears to be deeply rooted into eleutheric mammalians reproduction less linked to environmental accidental factors, it might be that nutritional factors that impact on the immune system might play a role in prevention.Understanding the link between immune activation, nutrition and dietary factors, placental ischemia, endothelial dysfunction and hypertension during pregnancy should lead to better prediction, prevention and treatment strategies for women affected by this important disease.