Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Submission Date

4-17-2025

Document Type

Undergraduate Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition (BSHN)

First Mentor

Andrea Charvet, Ph.D., RDN, LDN

Keywords

Preeclampisa, Nutrition, Diet, Observational, Population, Broward County, Maternal, Health

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition typically diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation in women with no prior history of hypertension. Characterized by high blood pressure, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes, and affecting the arteries carrying blood to the placenta, preeclampsia affects the health of both the mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia is disproportionately prevalent in certain populations, specifically among Black women, with various factors contributing to the higher susceptibility including socioeconomic status, education, and health distrust. These factors have been historically structured against Black women in American society. This study aims to reveal how dietary habits can play a role in the prevalence of preeclampsia in black women and how to manage and prevent the condition. For this study, 300 pregnant Black women across the United States, ages 18-35 years old, will be selected for an observational study that will recruit participants from OB/GYN clinics, hospitals, and community health centers. Participants will be followed from early pregnancy until delivery. Participants that are eligible will undergo data collection including height, weight, urine, and blood tests. Additional tools such as food frequency questionnaires, diet recalls, and food diaries will also be included in the study. These assessments will be used during each trimester and have follow ups postpartum. The results are expected to show a strong correlation between diet and the risk of developing preeclampsia in Black women. Consuming processed foods and lacking essential vitamins and minerals may increase the risk of preeclampsia. These findings will be crucial for public health initiatives and clinical practices. Highlighting significant dietary factors related to preeclampsia will warrant health professionals to provide focused nutritional advice, helping to decrease the prevalence of this condition.

Comments

References:

Mohottige, D., Davenport, C. A., Bhavsar, N., Schappe, T., Lyn, M. J., Maxson, P., Johnson, F., Planey, A. M., McElroy, L. M., Wang, V., Cabacungan, A. N., Ephraim, P., Lantos, P., Peskoe, S., Lunyera, J., Bentley-Edwards, K., Diamantidis, C. J., Reich, B., & Boulware, L.

E. (2023). Residential Structural Racism and Prevalence of Chronic Health Conditions.

JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2348914. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.48914

Parlapani, E., Agakidis, C., Karagiozoglou-Lampoudi, T., Sarafidis, K., Agakidou, E., Athanasiadis, A., & Diamanti, E. (2019). The Mediterranean diet adherence by pregnant women delivering prematurely: association with size at birth and complications of prematurity. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine: The Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians, 32(7), 1084–1091. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2017.1399120

Yusrawati, et al. Analyses of Nutrients and Body Mass Index as Risk Factor for Preeclampsia. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India, vol. 67, no. 6, 24 Mar. 2017, pp.

409–413, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-017-0982-7.

Gyamfi-Bannerman, C., Pandita, A., Miller, E. C., Boehme, A. K., Wright, J. D., Siddiq, Z., D’Alton, M. E., & Friedman, A. M. (2019). Preeclampsia outcomes at delivery and race. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 33(21), 3619–3626.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2019.1581522 • Johnson, J. D., & Louis, J. M. (2020). Does race or ethnicity play a role in the origin, pathophysiology, and outcomes of preeclampsia? An expert review of the literature. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 226(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.07.038

Minhas, A. S., Hong, X., Wang, G., Rhee, D. K., Liu, T., Zhang, M., Michos, E. D., Wang, X., & Mueller, N. T. (2022). Mediterranean‐Style Diet and Risk of Preeclampsia by Race in the Boston Birth Cohort. Journal of the American Heart Association, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.121.022589

Myles, M., Gennaro, S., Dubois, N., O’Connor, C., & Roberts, K. (2017). Nutrition of Black Women During Pregnancy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 46(3), e83–e94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.01.007

Dickman, S. L., Gaffney, A., McGregor, A., Himmelstein, D. U., McCormick, D., Bor, D. H., & Woolhandler, S. (2022). Trends in Health Care Use Among Black and White Persons in the US, 1963-2019. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), e2217383.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17383

Ross, K. M., Dunkel Schetter, C., McLemore, M. R., Chambers, B. D., Paynter, R. A., Baer, R., Feuer, S. K., Flowers, E., Karasek, D., Pantell, M., Prather, A. A., Ryckman, K., & Jelliffe-Pawlowski, L. (2019). Socioeconomic Status, Preeclampsia Risk and Gestational Length in Black and White Women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 6(6), 1182–1191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00619-3

Boakye, E., Kwapong, Y. A., Obisesan, O., Ogunwole, S. M., Hays, A. G., Nasir, K.,

Blumenthal, R. S., Douglas, P. S., Blaha, M. J., Hong, X., Creanga, A. A., Wang, X., & Sharma, G. (2021). Nativity-Related Disparities in Preeclampsia and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among a Racially Diverse Cohort of US Women. JAMA Network Open, 4(12), e2139564. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39564

-

Download
Share Feedback

Share

COinS