Diet In Pregnancy Research Articles

Differential effects of diet and physical activity interventions in pregnancy to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus and reduce gestational weight gain by level of maternal adiposity: a protocol for an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

IntroductionWomen and their infants are at increased risk of complications if gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) occurs in pregnancy. Weight management interventions in pregnancy, consisting...

Application of multilevel linear spline models for analysis of growth trajectories in a cohort with repeat antenatal and postnatal measures of growth: a prospective cohort study

ObjectivesTo model trajectories of antenatal and postnatal growth using linear spline multilevel models.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingMaternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland.Participants720–759 mother–child pairs from the ROLO study (initially a randomised control trial...

Developmental Programming-Aging Interactions Have Sex-Specific and Developmental Stage of Exposure Outcomes on Life Course Circulating Corticosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Concentrations in Rats Exposed to Maternal Protein-Restricted Diets

The steroids corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) perform multiple life course functions. Rodent life-course circulating corticosterone and DHEA trajectories are unknown. We studied life course basal corticosterone and DHEA in offspring of rats fed protein-restricted (10% protein, R) or control (20% protein, C), pregnancy diet first letter, and/or lactation second letter, producing four offspring groups-CC, RR, CR, and RC. We hypothesize that 1. maternal diet programs are sexually dimorphic, offspring life course steroid concentrations, and 2. an aging-related steroid will fall. Both changes differ with the plastic developmental period offspring experienced R, fetal life or postnatally, pre-weaning. Corticosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay and DHEA by ELISA. Steroid trajectories were evaluated by quadratic analysis. Female corticosterone was higher than male in all groups. Male and female corticosterone were highest in RR, peaked at 450 days, and fell thereafter. DHEA declined with aging in all-male groups. DHEA: corticosterone fell in three male groups but increased in all-female groups with age. In conclusion, life course and sexually dimorphic steroid developmental programming-aging interactions may explain differences in steroid studies at different life stages and between colonies experiencing different early-life programming. These data support our hypotheses of sex and programming influences and aging-related fall in rat life course serum steroids. Life course studies should address developmental programming-aging interactions.

Including the child’s voice in research from a longitudinal birth cohort: insights from the ROLO young person’s advisory group

BackgroundPublic and patient involvement (PPI) through Young Person’s Advisory Groups (YPAG) enables children to provide guidance and insight into research activities. PPI is an important characteristic of research, however, to date, most collaboration has been with adults. Also, few YPAGs have been established within the Irish setting. The ROLO (Randomised cOntrol trial of a LOw glycaemic index diet in pregnancy to prevent macrosomia) YPAG was established in July 2020 to identify the research priorities of a group of healthy Irish children who are part of a longitudinal birth cohort. We aimed to describe this process and the key insights to date.MethodsThe ROLO study is a longitudinal birth cohort which has followed-up mother–child dyads at multiple timepoints over 10 years. Mothers actively involved in the study were contacted by the research team to invite their ROLO child and older sibling to participate in the YPAG. Meetings were conducted virtually between July 2020 and February 2022. Researchers encouraged free expression of views amongst the children regarding their research interests. Meetings were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed for themes based on the topics most frequently discussed and considered important to participants.ResultsIn all, seven ROLO children and six older siblings attended four ROLO YPAG meetings. Participants were aged between nine to fifteen years old. Four key themes were identified; study children viewed their identity as part of a longitudinal birth cohort as positive and unique; study children considered the fitness test and body measurements as fun aspects related to their participation; all children considered the impact and use of social media as an important form of communication; and all participants expressed interest in attaining new health-related information and learning opportunities. Children suggested topics such as mental health, future viruses, organ transplants, cancer, and the effect of technology and chemicals on the body were important for future research.ConclusionThe ROLO YPAG offers promising scope for continued collaboration. The themes identified from the meetings contribute to a gap in the literature which will guide future research activities, particularly with children, in view of study design, relevance, and by communication strategies.Trial Details: ISRCTN54392969 registered at www.isrctn.com.

Associations between maternal dietary scores during early pregnancy with placental outcomes.

Individual macronutrient and micronutrient effects on placental growth have been widely investigated. However, the influence of overall maternal diet is relatively unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine associations between a range of maternal dietary scores during early pregnancy with placental outcomes, and to investigate whether there is evidence of sexual dimorphism. This analysis of the Lifeways Cross-Generational Cohort includes 276 mother-child pairs. A validated 148-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire assessed maternal diet in early pregnancy. Dietary scores reflecting dietary quality [Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)], dietary inflammatory potential [Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and the energy adjusted DII (E-DII)], dietary antioxidant status [Dietary Antioxidant Quality (DAQ)], and glycemic and insulinemic loads/indices (GL/GI, IL/II) were calculated. Linear regression analyses assessed maternal dietary score relationships with untrimmed placental weight (PW) and birth weight:placental weight (BW:PW) ratio. In fully adjusted models, maternal E-DII and GI were positively associated, and HEI-2015 and DAQ were negatively associated with PW (B: 12.31, 95% CI: 0.41, 24.20, p = 0.04, B: 4.13, 95% CI: 0.10, 8.17, p = 0.04, B: -2.70, 95% CI: -5.03, -0.35, p = 0.02 and B: -15.03, 95% CI: -28.08, -1.98, p = 0.02, for E-DII, GI, HEI-2015 and DAQ respectively). Maternal DAQ associations with BW:PW ratio were attenuated. When stratified by sex, maternal GI and pregnancy-specific DAQ were associated with PW in female offspring (B: 5.61, 95% CI: 0.27, 10.96, p = 0.04 and B: -15.31, 95% CI: -30.35, -0.27, p = 0.046). Maternal E-DII and HEI-2015 were associated with PW in males (B: 24.31, 95% CI: 5.66, 42.96, p = 0.01 and B: -3.85, 95% CI: -7.47, -0.35, p = 0.03 respectively). The results of this novel investigation suggest that maternal diet may influence placental development. Female fetuses may be more sensitive to increased glucose levels whereas male fetuses may be more susceptible to in-utero stresses that are regulated by inflammatory pathways and overall diet quality. Hence, early pregnancy offers an opportune time for a mother to prioritize dietary changes that focus on reducing inflammatory and glycemic responses.

The Role of Prenatal Psychosocial Stress in the Associations of a Proinflammatory Diet in Pregnancy With Child Adiposity and Growth Trajectories

Prenatal psychosocial stress and nutrition may each program offspring adiposity, an important predictor of lifelong cardiometabolic health. Although increased stress and poor nutrition have been found to co-occur in pregnancy, little is known about their combined longitudinal associations in the offspring. To investigate whether the associations of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) with offspring adiposity differ by prenatal stress levels and whether these associations change with age. Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort study of mother-child dyads in Massachusetts, included singleton children of mothers enrolled between April 1999 and July 2002, with follow-up visits at early childhood, midchildhood, and early adolescence. Data analysis was performed from October 31, 2020, to October 31, 2022. Food frequency-derived DII score in pregnancy was the exposure. Effect modifiers included stress-related measures in pregnancy; depressive symptoms assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), dichotomized at scores greater than or equal to 13 vs less than 13; and census tract-level social vulnerability (overall Social Vulnerability Index and its 4 main subindices), dichotomized at the 75th percentile. Overall adiposity, comprising sex- and age-standardized body mass index (BMI z), sum of subscapular and triceps skinfolds, fat mass index (FMI), and body fat percentage estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA); and central adiposity, comprising waist circumference, ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfolds, and DXA-derived trunk FMI. Among 1060 mother-child dyads, mean (SD) maternal age was 32.6 (4.6) years, and 811 (77%) mothers were non-Hispanic White. Mean (SD) DII score was -2.7 (1.3) units, Social Vulnerability Index level was 38th (27th) percentile, and 8% of mothers had depressive symptoms. Mean (SD) age of the children was 3.3 (0.3) years at the early childhood visit, 7.9 (0.8) years at the midchildhood visit, and 13.2 (0.9) years at the early adolescence visit. In adjusted analyses, children born to mothers in the highest (vs lowest) quartile of DII had slower decrease in BMI z scores (β, 0.03 SD units/y; 95% CI, 0.01-0.05 SD units/y), and faster adiposity gain (eg, BIA total FMI β, 0.11 kg/m2/y; 95% CI, 0.03-0.19 kg/m2/y) over time. Associations of prenatal DII quartiles with childhood adiposity were stronger (eg, BIA total FMI quartile 4 vs quartile 1 change in β, 1.40 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.21-2.59 kg/m2) among children of mothers with high vs low EPDS scores in pregnancy, although EPDS scores did not modify the change over time. Associations of prenatal DII with adiposity change over time, however, were greater among children whose mothers lived in neighborhoods with a high (BIA percentage body fat: β, 0.55% per year; 95% CI, 0.04%-1.07% per year) vs low (β, 0.13% per year; 95% CI, -0.20 to 0.46% per year), percentage of racial and ethnic minorities, and residents with limited English-language proficiency. The findings of this cohort study suggest that it may be useful to simultaneously evaluate prenatal diet and psychosocial stress in women as targets for interventions intended to prevent excess childhood adiposity.

Diet in Early Life Is Related to Child Mental Health and Personality at 8 Years: Findings from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).

There is rising concern about population mental health. Personality and mental health traits manifest early. Sufficient nutrition is fundamental to early development. However, little is known about early life dietary impact on later mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of exposure to a healthy and sustainable antenatal and early childhood diet with personality traits and symptoms of depression and anxiety measured at 8 years of age. This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) including 40,566 participants. Mental health measures and personality traits were assessed at 8 years. Dietary data from pregnancy, child age 6 and 18 months and 3 and 7 years were used. With few exceptions, inverse associations were observed between healthier diet at all time points and depression and anxiety symptom scores at age 8. We found positive associations between diet scores at almost all time points and extraversion, benevolence, conscientiousness and imagination. Inverse associations were observed between diet scores and neuroticism. Combined, these findings underpin a probable impact of both maternal pregnancy diet and early childhood diet on several aspects of child mental health.

Myths & Facts Regarding Diet in Pregnancy-A Survey Review

At the current scenario due to more and more civilization pregnancy diet related myths are self-explanatoryas well as confusing due to misleading by the social media. Especially in the rural areas of India includingthe underdeveloped and developing countries this problem is a social drawback in this 21st century.Pregnancycan be equally an incredibly exciting and nerve-racking time. And as the logistical authenticity of pregnancysets in, women who are expecting often swiftly come to understand all the ways they may not be able to eatexactly as they did before—principally when it comes to the safety of many foods and beverages as well as theirtimings and frequency. This article offers a comprehensive review of Myths & Facts Regarding Diet in Pregnancyincluding the factual explanation. The survey conducted from 1st September to 15 October.

Ultra-processed food consumption and associations with biomarkers of nutrition and inflammation in pregnancy: The Norwegian Environmental Biobank.

A high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is often associated with low nutritional quality, but data on associations with biomarkers are scarce. We aimed to explore associations between UPF intake, diet quality, and concentrations of biomarkers of nutrition and inflammation measured in mid-pregnancy. This cross-sectional study included n = 2,984 pregnant women recruited during 2002-2008 in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and 21 nutritional biomarkers including carotenes (α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene), vitamins [α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), retinol], creatinine, elements (K, Na, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn), and ferritin (Fe) were measured in blood and urine collected in mid-pregnancy. Habitual diet in pregnancy was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We calculated the relative (%) energy contribution of UPF to overall intake according to the NOVA classification. We also applied a diet quality index (DQI) adapted to assess adherence to Norwegian dietary guidelines (DQI; min-max: 0-110, higher score meaning higher adherence). We present summary statistics for biomarker concentrations and explored associations between UPF intake or the DQI and measured biomarkers using adjusted linear, logistic, and generalized additive regression models. Ultra-processed food intake was positively associated with biomarker concentrations of vitamin E (γ-tocopherol), creatinine, K, and Na [βs: 5.6 to 17% increase in biomarker concentration per interquartile range (IQR) increase in UPF intake] and negatively associated with carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene), vitamin A, Mo, and Se (βs: -2.1 to -18%). Inversely, high diet quality (i.e., the DQI) was positively associated with concentrations of carotenoids, vitamins [vitamin A (retinol) and D (25-OH-D)], and Se (β: 1.5 to 25%) and negatively associated with vitamin E (γ-tocopherol), creatinine, and Na (β: -4.8 to -8.3%). A weak, positive association was found between UPF and CRP (β: 5.4%, 95% CI 0.12-11%). High UPF intake was associated with reduced concentrations of nutrition biomarkers in mid-pregnancy. Associations in the opposite direction were found with high adherence to the Norwegian dietary guidelines, suggesting that the two dietary scoring systems capture diet quality in a mirrored manner in this population.

Scientific Analysis of Garbhini Ahar as Epigenetics Modifier of Offspring Genetics - A Critical Review

Reproduction is a bliss that aids in transferring genes from one generation to another. Every prospective parent desire procreation of progeny endowed with supreme health throughout whole life. But, in today’ s era due to faulty dietary and lifestyle habits people are not paying attention to their health resulting in rising incidence of chronic health related hazards like, NCD, DM, HTN, Dyslipidemia, allergies in later life. In last few decades, growing number of epidemiological studies provide evidence for association between nutrition during intrauterine life and major risk factors for CVS disorders and metabolic syndrome in adult life known as fetal origin of adult disease. The notion that intrauterine environmental factors can reset physiological parameters and the resetting can endure into adulthood and can even affect the following generation is known as fetal programming Ayurveda is far advanced as the concept of Garbhini paricharya particularly concept of month wise dietary regime is highly scientific and practical in terms of modern scientific knowledge. On screening the dietary articles mentioned for pregnant lady, it was found that every single fact pertaining to maternal diet mentioned in Ayurvedic text is scientific and has potential to modify the genome/phenotypic expression. Although these ancient dietary approaches have been successfully practiced from millennia but in present era elucidation of these approaches will improve the fidelity of Ayurvedic antenatal care as well as pave the way for future disease prevention. By focusing on Garbhini swasthavritta (pregnancy diet and lifestyle regimens) mentioned in Ayurveda we can reprogram the epigenetic modifications associated with increased disease risk in later life. Ghrita, milk and honey are very essential component of diet during pregnancy and should be consumed regularly. These dietary guidelines should be inoculated into general public for future imprinting of our next generation.

Prenatal Nutrition Care in Alberta: The Perspectives of Pregnant Women and Registered Dietitians.

Introduction: Optimizing women's diets in pregnancy improves maternal and child health outcomes; however, the best format for supporting women's nutrition goals in pregnancy is not clear, and access to dietetic services is not standard in prenatal care in Alberta. This study explored women's perceptions about access to Registered Dietitians (RDs) throughout pregnancy and RDs experiences providing prenatal nutrition counselling.Methods: Two studies were conducted. Study A: Pregnant women completed a short survey while attending a prenatal appointment in a large prenatal clinic. The survey assessed women's perspectives about accessing dietetic services during pregnancy. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Study B: RDs participated in either a semi-structured phone interview or a focus group and described their experiences working with pregnant women. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: One hundred pregnant women completed the survey. Ninety percent indicated that they had not seen a RD at this time in pregnancy, and 48% reported that they would like to access a RD in pregnancy, if available. Dietitians discussed the diversity of women's concerns and the challenges to providing prenatal nutrition support.Conclusions: Women have nutrition-related questions during pregnancy. Dietitians experience challenges providing services in the current care systems.

A High Cholesterol Diet During Late Pregnancy Impairs Long-Term Maternal Vascular Function in Mice.

Gestational dyslipidemia is associated with pregnancy complications including preeclampsia. However, whether gestational dyslipidemia leads postpartum vascular dysfunction, which could increase the risk for cardiovascular complications later in life, is not known. Here, we aimed to determine whether a gestational dyslipidemia affects postpartum vascular health and induces early signs of atherosclerosis. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received a high cholesterol diet or control diet from gestational day 13.5 until term. After delivery, all mice received the control diet for ≈3 months postpartum (PP). Age-matched nulliparous females were on the same diets for equal periods. After 3 months, all mice were euthanized, serum was collected, and aortas were isolated to assess vascular function (wire myography) and markers of oxidative stress and early atherosclerosis. PP-high cholesterol diet females had increased circulating cholesterol levels compared with PP-control diet mice, without effect of the diet in nulliparous mice. Methacholine-induced vasodilation was impaired, and nitric oxide contribution reduced, by the high cholesterol diet in aortas of PP mice, but not in nulliparous mice. Exposure to oxidized low-density-protein cholesterol further impaired methylcholine-induced vasodilation in PP-high cholesterol diet aortas only. Compared with PP-control diet mice, aortic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, reactive oxygen species and nitrotyrosine levels were increased in aortas from PP-high cholesterol diet mice. No differences in aortic lipid deposition and macrophage infiltration were found. Exposure to a high cholesterol diet in pregnancy impairs vascular function postpartum. Our results support the hypothesis that gestational dyslipidemia impacts maternal vascular function after pregnancy, which could potentially predispose these women to future cardiovascular complications.

Plant-Based Diets Improve Maternal-Fetal Outcomes in CKD Pregnancies.

Reducing protein intake in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) limits glomerular stress induced by hyperfiltration and can prevent the progression of kidney disease; data in pregnancy are limited. The aim of this study is to analyze the results obtained in CKD patients who followed a plant-based moderately protein-restricted diet during pregnancy in comparison with a propensity-score-matched cohort of CKD pregnancies on unrestricted diets. A total of 52 CKD pregnancies followed up with a protein-restricted plant-based diet (Torino, Italy) were matched with a propensity score based on kidney function and proteinuria with CKD pregnancies with unrestricted protein intake (Cagliari Italy). Outcomes included preterm (<37 weeks) and very preterm (<34 weeks) delivery and giving birth to a small-for-gestational-age baby. The median age in our cohort was 34 years, 63.46% of women were primiparous, and the median body mass index (BMI) was 23.15 kg/m2 with 13.46% of obese subjects. No statistical differences were found between women on a plant-based diet and women who were not in terms of age, parity, BMI, obesity, CKD stage, timing of referral, or cause of CKD. No differences were found between the two groups regarding the week of delivery. However, the combined negative outcome (birth before 37 completed gestational weeks or birth-weight centile <10) occurred less frequently in women following the diet than in women in the control group (61.54% versus 80.77%; p = 0.03). The lower risk was confirmed in a multivariable analysis adjusted for renal function and proteinuria (OR: 0.260 [Q1:0.093–Q3:0.724]; p = 0.010), in which the increase in proteinuria from the first to the last check-up before delivery was lower in patients on plant-based diets (median from 0.80 to 1.87 g/24 h; p: ns) than in controls (0.63 to 2.39 g/24 h p < 0.0001). Plant-based, moderately protein-restricted diets in pregnancy in patients with CKD are associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age babies; the effect may be mediated by better stabilization of proteinuria.

Rat offspring's microbiota composition is predominantly shaped by the postnatal maternal diet rather than prenatal diet

This study assessed the impact of maternal diet during pregnancy versus lactation on offspring gut microbiota. Sprague-Dawley dams were fed high fat (HF) or Chow diets during pregnancy, and their male offspring were raised by a different dam consuming the same or opposite diet (Chow-Chow, Chow-HF, HF-Chow, and HF-HF). Microbiota analysis showed that maternal lactation diet, rather than pregnancy diet, determined offspring microbiota profiles at weaning. Increased abundances of Turicibacter, Staphylococcus , and Ruminococcus were characteristic of chow lactation groups. Lactococcus , Streptococcus , and Parabacteroides were characteristic of HF lactation groups and positively correlated with offspring body weight

Antenatal diet quality and perinatal depression: the Microbiome Understanding in Maternity Study (MUMS) cohort.

Previous findings from research investigating the role of antenatal nutrition in preventing postpartum depression (PPD) are inconsistent. Our primary aim was to investigate the association between pregnancy diet quality and PPD. Our secondary aim was to investigate associations between (a) diet quality and depression during pregnancy and (b) depression during pregnancy and PPD. This analysis represents data from 73 women participating in the Microbiome Understanding in Maternity Study (MUMS) cohort in Sydney, Australia, which followed women from Trimester 1 of pregnancy to 1-year postpartum (PP). Participants' diet quality was assessed using the Australian Eating Survey at Trimester 1 and 3 to calculate diet quality, known as the Australian Recommended Food Score (lower diet quality defined as score <39; higher diet quality ≥39). Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale at Trimesters 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks PP (defined as score ≥11). Depression scores during pregnancy were significantly associated with depression score 6 weeks PP (Trimester 1: r = 0.66, Trimester 2: r = 0.69, Trimester 3: r = 0.67; all p < 0.001). Diet quality during pregnancy was not significantly correlated with 6-week PPD score. In unadjusted analysis, diet quality during pregnancy was not associated with pregnancy depression scores. When adjusted for age, parity and Trimester 1 body mass index, Trimester 1 physical activity levels and gestational weight gain, higher Trimester 3 diet quality was associated with reduced Trimester 3 depression only. Depression scores during pregnancy were positively associated with PPD, highlighting the importance of screening for depression during pregnancy and postnatally. Larger longitudinal prospective studies may elucidate the association between diet quality and PPD.

Grocery Delivery to Support Healthy Weight Gain Among Pregnant Young Women With Low Income: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundExcessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with complications for both the mother and her infant including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, operative delivery, and long-term obesity. A healthy diet during pregnancy promotes healthy gestational weight gain and determines fetal epigenetic programming in infants that impacts risk for future chronic disease.ObjectiveThis project will examine the impact of grocery delivery during pregnancy on the weight, diet, and health outcomes of young pregnant women and their infants.MethodsA three-arm randomized controlled trial design will be performed. A total of 855 young pregnant women, aged 14-24 years, from across the state of Michigan will be enrolled and randomized equally into the three study arms. Participants in arm one (control) will receive usual care from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); arm two will receive WIC plus biweekly grocery delivery; and arm three will receive WIC plus biweekly grocery and unsweetened beverage delivery. Weight will be assessed weekly during pregnancy, and total pregnancy weight gain will be categorized as above, below, or within guidelines. Additionally, dietary intake will be assessed at three time points (baseline, second trimester, and third trimester), and pregnancy outcomes will be extracted from medical records. The appropriateness of pregnancy weight gain, diet quality, and occurrence of poor outcomes will be compared between groups using standard practices for multinomial regression and confounder adjustment.ResultsThis study was funded in April 2021, data collection started in December 2021, and data collection is expected to be concluded in 2026.ConclusionsThis study will test whether grocery delivery of healthy foods improves weight, diet, and pregnancy outcomes of young moms with low income. The findings will inform policies and practices that promote a healthy diet during pregnancy, which has multigenerational impacts on health.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05000645; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05000645International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/40568

Influence of Diet and Lifestyle on the Development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and on Perinatal Results.

GDM is a multifactorial disease, so there is controversy regarding the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis. We speculate whether lifestyle and eating habits influenced the appearance and pathogenesis of GDM. To explore this issue, the aim of the present study was to analyze maternal diet and lifestyle characteristics in early pregnancy and their influence on the development of GDM. The study included 103 pregnant women who completed a questionnaire on nutritional knowledge, lifestyle and eating habits. Perinatal and biochemical outcomes as well as pregestational lifestyle and eating habits were compared between normoglycemic women and those who developed GDM. The results obtained showed that women who developed GDM had erroneous knowledge regarding nutrition. Consumption of white bread (p = 0.018), added sugars (p = 0.037), legumes (p = 0.025), fish (p = 0.014), butter (p = 0.010) and the performance of less physical activity (p = 0.024) correlated with glucose intolerance in pregnant women. In conclusion, we found a relationship between dietary and lifestyle habits at the beginning of pregnancy and the later diagnosis of GDM.

Adherence to a healthy and potentially sustainable Nordic diet is associated with child development in The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

BackgroundThe rapid neurodevelopment that occurs during the first years of life hinges on adequate nutrition throughout fetal life and early childhood. Therefore, adhering to a dietary pattern based on healthy foods during pregnancy and the first years of life may be beneficial for future development. The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between adherence to a healthy and potentially sustainable Nordic diet during pregnancy and in early childhood and child development.MethodsThis study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). In 83,800 mother-child pairs, maternal pregnancy diet and child diet at 6 months, 18 months and 3 years were scored according to adherence to the New Nordic Diet (NND). NND scores were calculated both as a total score and categorized into low, medium, or high adherence. Child communication and motor development skills were reported by parents at 6 months, 18 months, 3 and 5 years, using short forms of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Child Development Inventory. Associations of NND adherence with child development were estimated with linear and logistic regression in crude and adjusted models.ResultsWhen examining the NND and child developmental scores as percentages of the total scores, we found positive associations between the NND scores (both maternal pregnancy diet and child diet) and higher scoring on child development (adjusted hat{beta} s [95% confidence intervals] ranging from 0.007 [0.004, 0.009] to 0.045 [0.040, 0.050]). We further found that low and medium adherence to NND were associated with higher odds of later emerging developmental skills compared to high NND adherence at nearly all measured timepoints (odds ratios [95% CI] ranging from significant values 1.15 [1.03–1.29] to 1.79 [1.55, 2.06] in adjusted analyses).ConclusionsOur findings support that adherence to a healthy and potentially sustainable diet early in life is important for child development every step of the way from pregnancy until age 5 years.

Reducing the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women with Metabolic Syndrome by Dietary Intervention During Early Pregnancy

Objective: The study objective was to explore the clinical observation of reducing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women with metabolic syndrome (MS) by dietary intervention during early pregnancy. Methods: Singleton pregnant women who set early pregnancy filings and had regular prenatal care and delivery at Zengcheng Hospital of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangdong Province from January 2020 to June 2021 were screened out according to the diagnostic criteria for MS promulgated by the International Diabetes Federation in 2005. Pregnant women meeting the diagnostic criteria for MS were randomly divided into the intervention group (n = 80) and the control group (n = 80). The changes in the indicators of MS (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], total cholesterol [TC], triglyceride [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], systolic blood pressure [SBP], and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]) in early and late pregnancy were observed, and the incidence of GDM was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference (P &gt; 0.05) in TC, TG, FPG, LDL, HDL, SBP, or DBP of women in early pregnancy between the two groups. There was no significant difference (P &gt; 0.05) in TC and TG of women in late pregnancy between the two groups. The FPG, LDL, SBP, and DBP of the intervention group were lower than those of the control group, and the HDL of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group, which showed a significant difference in the two groups (P &lt; 0.05). The incidence of GDM in the intervention group was lower than those of the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Pregnant women with MS before their pregnancy were at a high risk of GDM. Diet and exercise interventions in early pregnancy could improve the indicators of their blood metabolism and lipid metabolism, which could effectively reduce the incidence of GDM and thus improve the adverse pregnancy outcome and ensure the safety of the mothers and the infants.

Ecological factors and childhood eating behaviours at 5 years of age: findings from the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study

BackgroundIndividual differences in children eating behaviours have been linked with childhood overweight and obesity. The determinants of childhood eating behaviours are influenced by a complex combination of hereditary and ecological factors. This study examines if key ecological predictors of childhood overweight; maternal socio-economic status (SES), children’s screen time, and childcare arrangements, are associated with eating behaviours in children aged 5-years-old.MethodsThis is secondary, cross-sectional analysis of the ROLO (Randomized COntrol Trial of LOw glycemic diet in pregnancy) study, using data from the 5-year follow-up (n = 306). Weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were obtained from mothers and children at the 5-year follow-up. Children’s BMI z-scores were calculated. SES was determined using maternal education level and neighborhood deprivation score. Information on children’s screen time and childcare arrangements were collected using lifestyle questionnaires. Children’s eating behaviours were measured using the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Multiple linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders, assessed associations between maternal SES, screen time and children’s eating behaviours. One-way ANOVA, independent sample t-tests and Spearman’s correlation examined childcare exposure and children’s eating behaviour.ResultsMothers in the lowest SES group had higher BMI and were younger than those in the highest SES group (p = < 0.001, p = 0.03 respectively). In adjusted analysis, the lowest SES group was associated with a 0.463-point higher mean score for ‘Desire to Drink’ (95% CI = 0.054,0.870, p = 0.027) and higher ‘Slowness to Eat’ (B = 0.388, 95% CI = 0.044,0.733, p = 0.027) when compared with the highest SES group. Screen time (hours) was associated with higher ‘Food Fussiness’ (B = 0.032, 95% CI = 0.014,0.051, p = 0.001). Those who attended childcare had higher scores for ‘Desire to Drink’(p = 0.046). No relationship was observed between longer duration (years) spent in childcare and eating behaviours.ConclusionsIn this cohort, the ecological factors examined had an influence on children’s eating behaviours aged 5-years-old. Our results illustrate the complexity of the relationship between the child’s environment, eating behaviour and children’s body composition. Being aware of the ecological factors that impact the development of eating behaviours, in the pre-school years is vital to promote optimal childhood appetitive traits, thus reducing the risk of issues with excess adiposity long-term.