Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related disease that affects about 5 percent of first-time mothers, and recent research has revealed that taking certain supplements may reduce the risk of the condition.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that women who consumed nutrition bars that contained vitamins and the amino acid L-arginine were significantly less likely to develop preeclampsia, even though all participants were at high risk for the illness.

In all, around 13 percent of women consuming the bars developed the condition, compared to 30 percent of those who took no supplements.

Preeclampsia occurs when an expecting mother’s blood pressure begins to rise around week 20 of her pregnancy. With this hypertension can come high levels of protein in the blood, weight gain, nausea and vomiting, the Mayo Clinic states.

Untreated, preeclampsia can endanger a fetus and lead to seizures, as well as to a condition known as HELLP syndrome, which causes destruction of the red blood cells, elevated liver proteins and low platelet levels.

The Mayo Clinic notes that poor diet can contribute to the illness. In the new study, researchers concluded that vitamin supplements may lower the likelihood of preeclampsia among high-risk mothers.