Are we overlooking ultra-processed foods in preeclampsia?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a hallmark of unhealthy dietary patterns and have been linked to chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity - key risk factors for preeclampsia (PE). Growing epidemiological evidence associates UPF-rich dietary patterns with increased risk of hypertensive disorders of hypertension (HDP), including PE. UPFs may promote PE pathophysiology through inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and angiogenic imbalance. In this narrative review we synthesize the epidemiological and mechanistic evidence linking UPF consumption to PE and claim that recognizing UPFs as a modifiable dietary risk factor represents a meaningful and underexplored opportunity for PE prevention.