Dietary Diversity in Pregnancy Linked to Gestational Diabetes Risk

Background: Gestational diabetes affects approximately 7% to 18% of pregnancies worldwide, leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. There is a gap in understanding the impact of dietary diversity during pregnancy on gestational diabetes risk, highlighting the need for targeted research in this area.

Method: This multicenter cohort study involved 1,200 pregnant women across five countries, utilizing food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary diversity. Women were categorized into low, medium, and high dietary diversity groups. The primary endpoint was the incidence of gestational diabetes, diagnosed according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria.

Results: The incidence of gestational diabetes was 12% in the high dietary diversity group compared to 22% in the low dietary diversity group, yielding a risk difference of 10% (95% CI 4%-16%, P=0.002). Additionally, the study noted a correlation between increased dietary diversity and lower levels of fasting glucose postpartum.

Conclusion: This study supports the inclusion of dietary diversification strategies in prenatal care to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, particularly in populations with low dietary diversity. However, findings are limited by observational design and the need for further studies in diverse demographic settings.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2025.160