DIETARY-SODIUM RESTRICTION IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY - EFFECTS ON THE INTAKE OF OTHER NUTRIENTS

Dietary sodium restriction is used in the Netherlands in the prophylax is of preeclampsia. To study the effects of long-term sodium restricti on on the intake of other nutrients and the outcome of pregnancy, 68 h ealthy nulliparous pregnant women were randomly assigned to either a l ow-sodium diet (20 mmo1/24 h) or an unrestricted diet. The diet was co nsumed between week 14 of gestation and delivery. The dietary intakes of energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, and calcium were estimated with the dietary-history technique. A low-sodium diet r educed the intake of protein (by approximate to 15 g/24 h), fat (by 20 g/24 h), and calcium (by 350 mg/24 h) and tended to decrease the ener gy intake (by approximate to 0.7 MJ/24 h). The intakes of carbohydrate and potassium did not differ between the groups. The maternal weight gain was less in the low-sodium group (6.0+/-3.7 compared with 11.7+/- 4.7 kg). Mean birth weight was not significantly different (3.2+/-0.5 compared with 3.4+/-5 kg).