Abstract
Literature describing a relationship between dietary protein intake during pregnancy and offspring insulin resistance are equivocal perhaps because of the lapse between maternal and offspring measurements (~9–40 years). Thus, we evaluated protein intake in healthy women [n = 182, mean ± SD; body mass index (BMI): 26.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2] in early pregnancy (8.4 ± 1.6 weeks, EP), late pregnancy (30.1 ± 0.4 weeks, LP), and averaged throughout pregnancy, and determined the relationship between protein intake and offspring homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) at 12 (12mo) and 24 (24mo) months. EP protein (g·kg−1·day−1) did not associate with HOMA2-IR at 12mo (β = 0.153, p = 0.429) or 24mo (β = −0.349, p = 0.098). LP protein did not associate with HOMA2-IR at 12mo (β = 0.023, p = 0.916) or 24mo (β = −0.442, p = 0.085). Finally, average protein did not associate with HOMA2-IR at 12mo (β = 0.711, p = 0.05) or 24mo (β = −0.445, p = 0.294). Results remained unchanged after adjusting for plant protein intake quartiles during pregnancy, maternal BMI, and offspring sex and body fat percentage. Additionally, these relationships did not change after quartile analysis of average protein intake, even after considering offspring fasting time and HOMA2-IR outliers, and maternal under-reporters of energy intake. Protein intake during pregnancy is not associated with indirect measurements of insulin sensitivity in offspring during the first two years of life.
Highlights
We have recently shown that there is a positive relationship between dietary protein intake during pregnancy and maternal insulin sensitivity estimated using the metabolic clearance rate of glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test administered in late pregnancy (~30 weeks) [1]
Multiple linear regressions were performed to predict offspring HOMA2-IR at 12mo and 24mo based on maternal total dietary protein intake at EP and LP (Table 3), as well as throughout pregnancy
There was no relationship between average dietary protein intake throughout pregnancy and offspring HOMA2-IR at 12mo (β = 0.711, n = 123, p = 0.05), or between average dietary protein intake throughout pregnancy and offspring HOMA2-IR at 24mo (β = −0.445, n = 110, p = 0.294)
Summary
We have recently shown that there is a positive relationship between dietary protein intake during pregnancy and maternal insulin sensitivity estimated using the metabolic clearance rate of glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test administered in late pregnancy (~30 weeks) [1]. These relationships may have been mediated by obesity status [1], evidenced by the weakening or disappearance of these relationships after accounting for BMI. Mean ± SD, * significantly different compared to EP, p < 0.05; BMI: body mass index; EP: early pregnancy at
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
