Pre-pregnancy consumption of starchy vegetables and legumes and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus among Tehranian women

Abstract

AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between legumes and starchy vegetables, including 1. potatoes and 2. other starchy vegetables (corn, squash, green pea, and green lima beans), and GDM among Tehranian women. MethodsOur study included 1026 pregnant women, aged 18–45 years, who consecutively attended prenatal clinics in five hospitals affiliated to universities of medical sciences in Tehran. The diagnosis of GDM was based on the criteria set by the American Diabetes Association. Dietary intakes were assessed during gestational age ≤6 weeks with a validated food frequency questionnaire. ResultsOf the 1026 pregnant women, 6.9% developed GDM. With respect to potato, higher consumption was negatively associated with GDM risk; OR for those who consumed ≥2.1 servings/week was 0.53 (95% CI 0.29–0.97), an association which disappeared after adjustment for confounding factors. For legumes, higher consumption was negatively associated with GDM; OR for those who consumed ≥3.3 servings/week was 0.38 (95% CI 0.19–0.74), also an association that did not change appreciably after adjustment for confounding factors. There was no significant association with the consumption of total starchy or other starchy vegetables with GDM. ConclusionsHigher consumption of legumes during reproductive age decrease the risk of GDM during pregnancy.