A high level of substances contained in unpasteurized dairy foods is found in red blood cells of pregnant women with a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia - a serious complication of pregnancy, fraught with including cardiac problems, researchers said..

British scientists from the University of Leeds believe that a substance called ergotionein may be a prerequisite for the development of pre-eclampsia, the causes of which are currently unknown. Medics in the study took blood samples from a group of pregnant women. It turned out that those patients who had signs of pre-eclampsia had higher concentrations in the blood of ergotionein.

The substance is formed by microorganisms contained in foods such as unpasteurized dairy products. Ergotionein can not be synthesized in the human body and accumulates in our cells solely because of certain foods in the diet, experts explained..

Earlier ergotionein was considered an antioxidant, on the contrary it is useful in reducing the risk of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, British microbiologists suspect that this complication of pregnancy can be caused by high consumption of unpasteurized dairy products.

Pregnant women with a high level of identified substance had high blood pressure.

Scientists believe that until the exact relationship between the concentrations of ergotionein and pre-eclampsia is established, it is recommended that pregnant women not consume raw dairy products, for example, fresh milk. Doctors warn that in the absence of treatment, preeclampsia causes a number of health problems, including a delay in infant growth and a high risk of maternal mortality.

Medicinform. Net.