Associations of macro and micronutrients and antioxidants intakes with preeclampsia: A case-control study in Jordanian pregnant women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted to evaluate whether preeclampsia in pregnant women is associated with dietary factors and antioxidant intake (vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and selenium). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this case-control study, a group of 79 pregnant Jordanian women (36 preeclamptic pregnant women and 43 healthy pregnant women aged 18-45 years with a gestational age ≥20th week of pregnancy) were recruited from the obstetrics and gynecology clinics at Royal Medical Services, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. Information about socio-demographics, anthropometric measurements, biochemical measurements, nutritional intake, and dietary habits was collected through a structured interview. Three 24-hour dietary records were also made. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and dietary intake was analyzed using ESHA software. Prepregnancy BMI, age, multiple pregnancies, energy intake, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and sodium showed significant difference between preeclamptic pregnant women and healthy pregnant women. The odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) show that a strong association with preeclampsia exists for the intake of fat (OR = 6.40, 95% CI: 1.85-22.17) and saturated fat (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.0-11.54). Inverse associations with preeclampsia were found for fruit intake (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.47-0.55) and olive oil intake (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.78). CONCLUSION: In this case-control study in Jordanian pregnant women, preeclampsia was associated with a high intake of fat, saturated fat, and sodium and a low intake of fruits, fiber, vitamin C, B-carotene, and olive oil.

Alfalfa hay improves nursing performance of Awassi ewes and performance of growing lambs when used as a source of forage compared with wheat straw.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat straw (WS) with alfalfa hay (ALF) in diets fed to Awassi lactating ewes (exp. 1) and weaned lambs (exp. 2). In each experiment, sheep were fed 1 of 3 treatment diets containing WS only, WS and ALF mix (50:50; WS-ALF), or ALF only as the forage sources. In exp. 1, 33 lactating Awassi ewes were assigned randomly to treatment diets (11 ewes/diet) and fed ad libitum for 56 days. Intakes of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were greater (P = 0.001) in WS-ALF and ALF diets than WS diet. Ewe weight-of-lamb weaned, and nursing-lamb average daily gain (ADG) was greatest for ALF, intermediate for WS-ALF, and least for WS treatment groups (P < 0.0001). Milk production (kg/day) tended to be greater (P = 0.07) in ALF diets compared with WS diets. Milk protein, total solids, and lactose production (g/day) were greater (P < 0.04) in ewes fed ALF and WS-ALF diets compared with WS diet. In exp. 2, 27 newly weaned lambs were randomly assigned to treatment diets (9 lambs/treatment) and fed ad libitum for 70 days. Intake and digestibility of DM were greater (P < 0.05) in lambs fed the ALF diet compared with the WS diet. Lamb total gain and ADG were greater (P < 0.01) for lambs fed WS-ALF and ALF diets compared with WS diet. Replacement of wheat straw with alfalfa hay improved most of performance and productivity measured variables of Awassi lactating ewes and growing lambs.