the survey of the daily intake rate of antioxidants' nutrients and their relation to preeclampsia among pregnant women from tehran in 2012

abstract background: since preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous and fatal complication in pregnancy, this research is aimed to determine the daily intake rate of antioxidants' nutrients and their relation to preeclampsia among tehrani pregnant women in 2012. methods: this prospective study was conducted among 1033 pregnant women in prenatal clinics in tehran. a general questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire (ffq) were completed for all participants by face to face interview before the 20 th week of pregnancy. the nutritional information obtained through each researched unit, in which the consumed nutrients by mothers had been registered during the previous month, was changed to gram by the researcher. this obtained information was measured by n4 software in order to calculate the received nutrient amounts by mothers. pregnant women were looked after and followed up since they participated in the study until the delivery time. preeclampsia was diagnosed in case there was a 140/90 mmhg hypertension and any proteinuria after the 20 th week of pregnancy. applied tests were meaningful less than 0.05. findings: women of 1033 (1.9%) turned out to suffer from preeclampsia. independent t test result demonstrated a significant difference in daily intake average of antioxidants' nutrients (zinc, vitamins a, c, e) between the affected group and the unaffected group, the mean intake level of these nutrients is lower in the women affected to preeclampsia. conclusion: results showed that diminishing daily intake of antioxidants is associated with preeclampsia occurrence. key words: preeclampsia, pregnancy, antioxidants' nutrients