Impact of a low glycemic index diet in pregnancy on markers of maternal and fetal metabolism and inflammation.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effect of a low glycemic index (GI) diet during pregnancy on maternal and fetal insulin resistance, leptin, and markers of inflammation.
Results Summary
The study found no significant differences in leptin or inflammatory markers between the low GI diet group and controls, but women on the low GI diet had a smaller rise in insulin concentrations during pregnancy.
Population
621 pregnant women with a history of macrosomia.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
From early pregnancy to 28 weeks gestation.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | no change | concentrations of any marker in early pregnancy | women in ROLO study | - | no difference | #1 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | no change | concentrations of any marker at 28 weeks | women in ROLO study | - | no difference | #2 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | no change | concentrations of any marker in cord blood | women in ROLO study | - | no difference | #3 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | decrease | insulin concentrations from early pregnancy to 28 weeks gestation | women in the intervention arm of the study | - | lower overall rise | #4 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | increase | insulin change (28-week insulin - insulin at booking) | women in the intervention arm | 20% | 20% were in the highest quartile | #5 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | increase | insulin change (28-week insulin - insulin at booking) | controls | 29% | 29% of controls | #6 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | no change | leptin | women in pregnancy | - | little effect | #7 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | no change | markers of inflammation | women in pregnancy | - | little effect | #8 |
low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy | decrease | typical increase in insulin resistance seen in pregnancy with advancing gestation | those who received the low GI advice | - | attenuated response | #9 |
This is a secondary analysis of 621 women in ROLO study, a randomized control trial of low glycemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy to prevent the recurrence of macrosomia, which aims to assess the effect of the diet on maternal and fetal insulin resistance, leptin, and markers of inflammation. In early pregnancy and at 28 weeks, serum was analyzed for insulin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). At delivery, cord blood concentrations of leptin, TNF-α, IL-6, and C-peptide were recorded. We found no difference between those who did or did not receive low GI advice with respect to the concentrations of any marker in early pregnancy, at 28 weeks or in cord blood. Women in the intervention arm of the study did have a lower overall rise in insulin concentrations from early pregnancy to 28 weeks gestation, P = .04. Of the women in the intervention arm, 20% were in the highest quartile for insulin change (28-week insulin - insulin at booking) compared to 29% of controls (P = .02). In conclusion, a low GI diet in pregnancy has little effect on leptin and markers of inflammation although an attenuated response to the typical increase in insulin resistance seen in pregnancy with advancing gestation was seen in those who received the low GI advice.