Low-carbohydrate diet for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a low-carbohydrate diet (40% CHO) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) would reduce insulin treatment rates compared to a control diet (55% CHO) while maintaining similar pregnancy outcomes.
Results Summary
The study found no significant difference in insulin treatment rates (54.7% in both groups) or pregnancy outcomes between the low-CHO and control diets, despite confirmed differences in carbohydrate intake.
Population
152 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Effective Dosage
Low-CHO diet (40% of total energy as carbohydrates) vs. control diet (55% of total energy as carbohydrates).
Duration
Not specified in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-CHO diet (40% of total diet energy content as CHO) | no change | number of women needing insulin | women with GDM | - | did not reduce | #1 |
low-CHO diet (40% of total diet energy content as CHO) | no change | pregnancy outcomes | women with GDM | - | produced similar | #2 |
low-CHO diet (40% of total diet energy content as CHO) | no change | rate of women requiring insulin | women with GDM | 54.7% vs. control 54.7% | was not significantly different | #3 |
low-CHO diet (40% of total diet energy content as CHO) | decrease | amount of CHO consumed | women with GDM | - | confirmed a difference | #4 |
low-CHO diet (40% of total diet energy content as CHO) | no change | obstetric and perinatal outcomes | women with GDM | - | No differences were found | #5 |
CHO amount (40 vs. 55% of calories) | no change | insulin need | women with GDM | - | did not influence | #6 |
CHO amount (40 vs. 55% of calories) | no change | pregnancy outcomes | women with GDM | - | did not influence | #7 |
OBJECTIVE: Medical nutrition therapy based on the control of the amount and distribution of carbohydrates (CHO) is the initial treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but there is a need for randomized controlled trials comparing different dietary strategies. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a low-CHO diet for the treatment of GDM would lead to a lower rate of insulin treatment with similar pregnancy outcomes compared with a control diet. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 152 women with GDM were included in this open, randomized controlled trial and assigned to follow either a diet with low-CHO content (40% of the total diet energy content as CHO) or a control diet (55% of the total diet energy content as CHO). CHO intake was assessed by 3-day food records. The main pregnancy outcomes were also assessed. RESULTS: The rate of women requiring insulin was not significantly different between the treatment groups (low CHO 54.7% vs. control 54.7%; P = 1). Daily food records confirmed a difference in the amount of CHO consumed between the groups (P = 0.0001). No differences were found in the obstetric and perinatal outcomes between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of women with GDM using a low-CHO diet did not reduce the number of women needing insulin and produced similar pregnancy outcomes. In GDM, CHO amount (40 vs. 55% of calories) did not influence insulin need or pregnancy outcomes.