The effects of plant-based dietary patterns on the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background The worldwide prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a significant health challenge. Plant-based dietary patterns are a series dietary habits that emphasized foods derived from plant sources more and from animal foods less. Now, no consensus exists on the effects of plant-based dietary patterns on the incident of GDM. Objective This study aimed to estimate the effects of plant-based dietary patterns on the risk of developing GDM. Methods This systematic review was conducted following the checklist of PRISMA. Six electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wangfang, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database were searched from inception to November 20, 2022. A fixed or random effect model was used to synthesize results of included studies. Then, subgroup analysis, meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were performed to assure the reliability and stability of the results. Results Ten studies including 32,006 participants were identified. The results of this study showed that the better adherence to the plant-based dietary patterns was related to the lower risk of developing GDM (RR = 0.88[0.81 to 0.96], I2 = 14.8%). The slightly stronger association between plant-based diets and the risk of developing GDM was found when healthy plant-based dietary pattern index was included in pooled estimate (RR = 0.86[0.79 to 0.94], I2 = 8.3%), compared with that unhealthy one was included (RR = 0.90[0.82 to 0.98], I2 = 8.3%). Conclusion The plant-based dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of developing GDM. Furthermore, healthy plant-based dietary patterns are more recommended than unhealthy one. It is significant to help medical staff to guide pregnant women to choose reasonable diets.

Systematic Reviews on the Prevention of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Maternal Obesity to Improve Evidence-Based Counselling

“…This was in accordance with a sub-analysis of women with the same BMI class within another publication 36 . Two meta-analyses specified the type of diet showing that a plant-based approach, respectively a Mediterranean diet significantly reduced GDM 40 41 . One SR investigating a low-glycemic index diet found a decreased rate of LGA children 39 .…”

“…Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, potatoes 71 , animal fat and cholesterol 72 , high glycemic load and low-cereal fiber diets 73 are associated with an increased risk for GDM. Alternatively, a high-fiber diet 73 , a plant-based diet 40 , a Mediterranean diet 41 , intake of vegetables, a substitution of red meat for poultry, fish, or legumes 74 and of potatoes by vegetables 71 and adherence to “healthful” dietary patterns 75 are also associated with a lower risk of GDM.…”

Nutrients as Risk Factors and Treatments for Gestational Diabetes

“…Dietary macronutrients have also been linked to increasing GDM risk including the consumption of low fiber, high glycemic index diets [12] and low carbohydrate, high-fat diets [13]. Of late a whole host of dietary strategies have been or are being studied to investigate potential links with alterations in GDM risk, including variations of the Mediterraneanstyle diet [14,15], high-fiber diets [16], diets with high complex carbohydrate contents [17], plant-based dietary patterns [18], diets high in probiotic yogurt contents [19], and diets with high colorful fruit and vegetable contents [20]. Further, observational dietary studies have reported associations between GDM risk and protein intake in early pregnancy (higher risk with increased early animal protein intakes and lower risk with increased early plant protein intakes [21]).…”