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Maternal nutrition, infants and children

Relation of the Mediterranean diet with the incidence of gestational diabetes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 8–13 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Some studies document relationships of the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with individual components of the diet, but studies exploring relationships with patterns of eating are lacking. This observational study aimed to explore a possible relationship between the incidence of GDM and the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) pattern of eating.

Subjects/methods:

In 10 Mediterranean countries, 1076 consecutive pregnant women underwent a 75-g OGTT at the 24th–32nd week of gestation, interpreted both by the ADA_2010 and the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG)_2012 criteria. The dietary habits were assessed by a previously validated questionnaire and a Mediterranean Diet Index (MDI) was computed, reflecting the degree of adherence to the MedDiet pattern of eating: a higher MDI denoting better adherence.

Results:

After adjustment for age, BMI, diabetes in the family, weight gain and energy intake, subjects with GDM, by either criterion, had lower MDI (ADA_2010, 5.8 vs 6.3, P=0.028; IADPSG_2012, 5.9 vs 6.4, P<0.001). Moreover, the incidence of GDM was lower in subjects with better adherence to the MedDiet (higher tertile of MDI distribution), 8.0% vs 12.3%, OR=0.618, P=0.030 by ADA_2010 and 24.3% vs 32.8%, OR=0.655, P=0.004 by IADPSG_2012 criteria. In subjects without GDM, MDI was negatively correlated with both fasting plasma glucose and AUC glucose, P<0.001 for both.

Conclusions:

Adherence to a MedDiet pattern of eating is associated with lower incidence of GDM and better degree of glucose tolerance, even in women without GDM. The possibility to use MedDiet for the prevention of GDM deserves further testing with intervention studies.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from the Mediterranean Group for the Study of Diabetes (MGSD).

Author information

Author notes

  1. B Karamanos, A Thanopoulou, E Anastasiou, S Assaad-Khalil, N Albache, M Bachaoui, C B Slama, H El Ghomari, A Jotic, N Lalic, A Lapolla, C Saab, M Marre, J Vassallo and C Savona-Ventura: Members of the MGSD-GDM Study Group are listed in the Appendix.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes Center, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    B Karamanos & A Thanopoulou

  2. Department of Clinical Therapeutics, First Endocrine Section and Diabetes Center, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece

    E Anastasiou

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt

    S Assaad-Khalil

  4. Diabetes Research Unit, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

    N Albache

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetology EHU, Oran, Algeria

    M Bachaoui

  6. Department of Endocrinology, National Institute of Nutrition, Tunis, Tunisia

    C B Slama

  7. Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, CHU IBN ROCHD, Casablanca, Morocco

    H El Ghomari

  8. Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    A Jotic & N Lalic

  9. University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    A Lapolla

  10. Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Sacre-Coeur University Hospital-Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    C Saab

  11. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nutrition, and Metabolic Diseases, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France

    M Marre

  12. Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta

    J Vassallo

  13. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta

    C Savona-Ventura

Authors
  1. B Karamanos
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  2. A Thanopoulou
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  6. M Bachaoui
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  7. C B Slama
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  8. H El Ghomari
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  9. A Jotic
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  10. N Lalic
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  13. M Marre
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  14. J Vassallo
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  15. C Savona-Ventura
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Consortia

the MGSD-GDM Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Karamanos.

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Appendix

Appendix

All participating investigators are listed, by country:

The MGSD-GDM study group was composed of key investigators in each collaborating country, including: Algeria (M Bachaoui, F Kolli, Z Benghanem); France (M Marre); Greece (B Karamanos, E Anastasiou); Italy (A Lapolla, M G Dalfra, A Filippi, A Barison, R Valentini); Lebanon (C Saab); Malta (C Savona-Ventura, J Vassallo, J Craus); Morocco (H El Ghomari, F Louda, H Addi, M Joubij, A Chraibi); Serbia (A Jotic, N M Lalic, A Ljubic, M Gojnic, T Milicic, L Lukic, J Seferovic, M Macesic); Syria (N Albache, A Jalek, K Kebbewaer, M Albache); and Tunisia (C Ben Slama).

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Karamanos, B., Thanopoulou, A., Anastasiou, E. et al. Relation of the Mediterranean diet with the incidence of gestational diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 8–13 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.177

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.177

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