Impact of Gestational Diabetes Detection Thresholds on Infant Growth and Body Composition: A Prospective Cohort Study Within a Randomized Trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with offspring metabolic disease, including childhood obesity, but causal mediators remain to be established. We assessed the impact of lower versus higher thresholds for detection and treatment of GDM on infant risk factors for obesity, including body composition, growth, nutrition, and appetite. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this prospective cohort study within the Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Trial of Diagnostic Detection Thresholds (GEMS) Trial, pregnant women were randomly allocated to detection of GDM using the lower criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups or higher New Zealand criteria (ACTRN12615000290594). Randomly selected control infants of women without GDM were compared with infants exposed to A) GDM by lower but not higher criteria, with usual treatment for diabetes in pregnancy; B) GDM by lower but not higher criteria, untreated; or C) GDM by higher criteria, treated. The primary outcome was whole-body fat mass at 5–6 months. RESULTS There were 760 infants enrolled, and 432 were assessed for the primary outcome. Fat mass was not significantly different between control infants (2.05 kg) and exposure groups: A) GDM by lower but not higher criteria, treated (1.96 kg), adjusted mean difference (aMD) −0.09 (95% CI −0.29, 0.10); B) GDM by lower but not higher criteria, untreated (1.94 kg), aMD −0.15 (95%C I −0.35, 0.06); and C) GDM detected and treated using higher thresholds (1.87 kg), aMD −0.17 (95% CI −0.37, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS GDM detected using lower but not higher criteria, was not associated with increased infant fat mass at 5–6 months, regardless of maternal treatment. GDM detected and treated using higher thresholds was also not associated with increased fat mass at 5–6 months.

Association of early-term birth and breastfeeding practices with nutritional outcomes in singleton term infants: a multicenter cross-sectional study

“…These factors were included as covariates in the models to ensure that the conclusions drawn about the association between early-term birth and breastfeeding practices with infant growth and nutrition were more precise and dependable. For instance, pregnancy-related risk factors, such as gestational hypertension and GDM, have long been a concern for the health of fetuses and infants [ 21 , 22 ]. Birth weight reflects the growth status and outcome of the fetal period, and its impact on short- and long-term health has been confirmed by numerous studies [ 7 , 23 ] Considering the significant variations in growth rates, patterns, and potential nutritional risks among infants with different birth weights, this study not only considered birth weight as a critical covariate but also conducted sensitivity analyses within normal birth weight infants, ensuring more robust and reliable research findings.…”