Can Manganese Prevent Preeclampsia?

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a severe medical condition that can happen to women who are pregnant. It usually starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy and can range from mild to severe. It causes high blood pressure and can also harm organs like the liver and kidneys, potentially leading to liver damage and brain injury. If it's not treated, preeclampsia can be dangerous for both the mom and the baby, causing severe complications such as organ damage and even death. Regular prenatal visits with a health care provider are crucial for early detection and treatment of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications. Pregnant people who have had gestational hypertension or high blood pressure during pregnancy in previous pregnancies are also at a higher risk of developing mild preeclampsia in future pregnancies, making it essential to take preventive measures and be aware of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Some common symptoms of preeclampsia include high blood pressure, swelling in the hands and face, sudden weight gain, severe headaches, and vision changes. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to complications such as premature birth and low birth weight, making it crucial to seek immediate medical care if any symptoms of preeclampsia arise during pregnancy. 

Understanding Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a health issue in pregnancy that shows itself in several ways:

High Blood Pressure:

This means the force of your blood against your blood vessel walls is too high. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or more at two different times, at least four hours apart, this is a sign of high blood pressure.

Too Much Protein in Urine:

Finding a lot of protein in your urine can mean your kidneys need to be fixed.

Other Signs Your Body Might Not Be Doing Well:

• Your liver might not be working right, as shown by high levels of liver enzymes in your tests.
• You might have nasty headaches, see changes in your vision, or feel severe pain on the right side of your belly, under your ribs.
• If fewer platelets are in your blood, which helps it clot, that's not good.
• Signs that your kidneys aren't working well can include more than protein in your urine, like high levels of creatinine.

Key Risk Factors

The risk factors for getting preeclampsia include:

• First Pregnancy: There's a higher risk during your first pregnancy.
• Past Experience: If you had preeclampsia before, it might happen again in later pregnancies.
• Family History: If it runs in your family, you might be more likely to get it, too.
• Health Conditions: High blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders like lupus can increase risk.
• Being Overweight: Higher body weight can raise your risk.
• Multiple Pregnancies: Being pregnant with twins, triplets, or more can also increase the risk.
• Age: Being younger than 20 or older than 35 increases the risk.

Potential Complications of Preeclampsia

Risk factors for getting preeclampsia include:

• First Baby: There's a bigger chance of getting it with your first baby.
• History: If you've had preeclampsia before, it might happen again.
• Family: If your family had it, you might get it, too.
• Health Issues: Problems like high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders (like lupus) can increase your risk.
• Weight: Being overweight can make it more likely.
• Having More than One Baby: The risk increases if you're expecting twins or triplets.
• Age: Being younger than 20 or older than 35 also raises the risk.

Possible problems from preeclampsia:

For Moms:

• Eclampsia: This is when severe preeclampsia leads to seizures.
• HELLP Syndrome: A serious condition involving blood cells and liver enzymes.
• Organ Damage: It can harm organs like the liver and kidneys.
• Heart Disease: A higher chance of getting heart disease later in life.

For Babies:

• Being Born Too Early: This can lead to problems with breathing and development.
• Not Growing Enough in the Womb: Babies might grow less than they should.
• Placental Abruption: This is when the placenta comes off the womb too early, which is dangerous.

Prevention and Management Strategies

Stopping preeclampsia before it starts isn't always an option, but you can do some things to lower the chance of getting it:

• Good Prenatal Care: It is super important to go to all your doctor's visits during pregnancy. Your doctor can check on you and your baby for early signs of trouble.
• Healthy Living: Eating healthy foods, exercising, and resting enough are great for you and your baby. Eat plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins, and drink lots of water.
• Taking Care of Your Health: If you have a health problem like high blood pressure or diabetes, follow your doctor's advice to keep it under control. This could mean taking your medicine and changing what you eat and do.
• Manganese: Scientists are looking at minerals like manganese to see if they can help stop preeclampsia. Your body needs Manganese in small amounts, and you can find it in foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. But remember, always talk to your doctor before taking any mineral or vitamin supplements. They will tell you if it's safe and how much you should take.

The Role of Manganese in Preventing Preeclampsia

At John Hopkins University, scientists studied over 1,300 pregnant women to see how manganese affected their pregnancies. They found out that women who had less manganese in their bodies at the start of pregnancy were more likely to get a condition called preeclampsia later on.

This study used information from an earlier project, Project Viva, which was conducted between 1999 and 2002. This project collected details about the health of pregnant women, including how much manganese was in their blood during the first three months of pregnancy and whether they developed preeclampsia.

Out of 1,312 women in the study, 48 got preeclampsia. The researchers noticed that women with more manganese, folic acid, and 1000 mg of calcium early in pregnancy had a smaller chance of getting preeclampsia later. They divided the women into three groups based on how much manganese they had—low, medium, and high. They saw that women with higher levels of manganese, folic acid, and adequate levels of calcium (1000 mg of iron) were half as likely to get preeclampsia compared to the women with lower levels of red blood cells. This highlights the importance of ensuring enough iron intake during pregnancy for both the mother and the baby's health, making it an excellent idea to incorporate foods high in B vitamins, such as liver, pork, chicken, bananas, beans, and whole-grain cereals and breads, into one's diet.

Daily prenatal vitamins can also provide the necessary vitamins and minerals for a healthy pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends taking folic acid supplements to prevent birth defects and promote overall disease control during pregnancy. These prenatal visits are also a great time to discuss any questions or concerns about pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding with your doctor or midwife.

So, having more manganese might help lower the risk of getting preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the exploration into whether manganese can prevent preeclampsia opens promising avenues for precautionary measures in pregnancy-related health. The evidence suggesting a link between higher levels of manganese in early pregnancy and reduced risk of preeclampsia emphasizes the importance of nutritional awareness and intake among pregnant women. While good prenatal care, healthy living, and managing existing health conditions play pivotal roles in preventing preeclampsia, the potential role of manganese deserves further attention. Expectant mothers must consult healthcare professionals before changing their diet or supplement intake, ensuring a balanced approach to leveraging manganese's possible benefits. This exploration into manganese’s impact sheds light on preventive preeclampsia strategies. It reinforces the broader importance of micronutrients in prenatal health, marking a step forward in understanding and managing pregnancy health challenges.

If you want to know how much manganese you have in your body and protect yourself from preeclampsia, you can take a particular test called HTMA with us. Just click here to try it! Or, you can think about taking a supplement called Upgraded Manganese to get more manganese.