Sydney, July 12 -- - An Australian study has revealed that eating a high fiber diet during pregnancy could dramatically reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a serious illness which the study has also shown could lead to allergies and autoimmune illnesses in babies later in life.

Researchers from the University of Sydney's (UoS) Charles Perkins Centre, the Barwon Infant Study from Deakin University, Monash University, James Cook University and the Australian National University released the joint study on Wednesday.

Senior author, Professor Ralph Nanan from UoS told Xinhua that the link between diet and preeclampsia is due to acetate, a compound produced in the gut bacteria of mothers as they process fiber.

Currently, preeclampsia occurs in...