Dietary fiber intake, dietary glycemic load, and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus during the second trimester: A nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The effect of fiber, especially the effect of specific fiber in different food groups, on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has seldomly been investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between GDM risk and consumption of total fiber, fiber in specific food groups, and glycemic load (GL) in the second trimester in Chinese women.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

A total 162 GDM cases were matched to 324 controls on women's age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Dietary survey was conducted twice to evaluate dietary factors between 13-16 gestational weeks (GW) and 21-24 GW respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Intake of total fiber and fruit fiber in both 13-16 GW and in 21-24 GW were significantly correlated with decreased risk of GDM, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs): 0.06 (0.03-0.13) and 0.03 (0.01-0.08) for total fiber in the highest quartile, 0.003 (0.0002-0.02) and 0.01 (0.001-0.02) for fruit fiber in the highest quartile, respectively. In contrast, consumption of cereal fiber in 21-24 GW and daily average GL in 13-16 GW were positively associated with GDM risk, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of the highest quartile: 3.34 (1.45-7.92) and 3.88 (1.43-10.89) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested consumption of dietary fiber in various food groups in the second trimester might be associated with GDM risk. Particularly, diet rich in total fiber and fruit fiber may play a protective role.