Diet and weight gain characteristics of pregnant women with gestational diabetes

Maija Salmenhaara (1) , Liisa Uusitalo (1) , Ulla Uusitalo (1) , Carina Kronberg-Kippilä (1) , Harri Sinkko (1) , Suvi Ahonen (1) , Riitta Veijola (1) , Mikael Knip (1) , Minna Kaila (1) , Suvi M. Virtanen (1)

1 Department of Lifestyle and Participation

Objectives: To determine if women with gestational diabetes (GD) modify their diet and nutrient intake in late pregnancy and gain more weight during pregnancy compared to women without GD. Subjects and methods: Food and nutrient intake of 3 613 pregnant women was studied using food frequency questionnaires from the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study. Results: GD was reported in 4.8% of the participating women (n=174). Women with GD gained less weight during pregnancy than those unaffected by GD (mean 9.4 kg vs. 12.6 kg, p<0.001). Women with GD consumed more milk products (84 vs. 76 g/MJ, p=0.002), cereal products (21 vs. 18 g/MJ, p<0.001), vegetables (32 vs. 22 g/MJ, p<0.001) and meat (16 vs. 14 g/MJ, p<0.001) than unaffected women. The intake of protein (18 vs. 16 E%, p<0.001) and dietary fibre (3.1 vs. 2.4 g/MJ, p<0.001) was higher, while the intake of sugars (13.3 g/MJ vs. 15.0 g/MJ, p<0.001) and saturated fatty acids (3.49 g/MJ vas. 3.98 g/MJ, p<0.001) was lower, among women with GD. The nutrient density of the diet was higher in women with GD with higher intakes of vitamin A and D, folate and iron. Conclusions: The late pregnancy diet of women with GD differed considerably from that of unaffected women. Women with GD had a higher body weight at the beginning of the pregnancy, but they gained less weight during pregnancy. These findings indicate that abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy encourages women to modify their dietary habits towards healthier food choices.

Mots clés: gestational diabetes; diet; weight gain

Maija Salmenhaara, Liisa Uusitalo, Ulla Uusitalo, Carina Kronberg-Kippilä, Harri Sinkko, et al.. Diet and weight gain characteristics of pregnant women with gestational diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010, ⟨10.1038/ejcn.2010.167⟩. ⟨hal-00570709⟩