First-trimester diet quality in association with maternal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue thicknesses and glucose homeostasis during pregnancy

Abstract

We aimed to characterise the associations between first-trimester diet quality, adiposity, and glucose homeostasis measurements throughout pregnancy in a sample of 104 healthy pregnant women. Three Web-based 24-h recalls were completed, from which the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) was calculated. At each trimester (12.5 ± 0.7, 22.8 ± 1.0, and 33.6 ± 1.3 weeks of gestation), fasting glucose and insulin were measured to compute an insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue thicknesses were estimated by ultrasound at the end of the first trimester. Inverse associations were observed between the first-trimester AHEI and first-trimester fasting insulin (r = 0.24; p < 0.05), and HOMA-IR (r = −0.22; p < 0.05), as well as third-trimester fasting insulin (r = −0.20; p < 0.05). A trend was also observed between first-trimester AHEI and first-trimester SAT thickness (r = −0.17; p < 0.1). Pre- and early-pregnancy adiposity measurements were identified as high predictors fasting insulin concentrations throughout pregnancy. Higher early-pregnancy diet quality is associated with more favourable metabolic measurements during pregnancy.