Mediterranean diet could reduce gestational diabetes risk in pregnant women: Study

Pregnant women who follow the Mediterranean diet could reduce their risk of gestational diabetes, according to a new study conducted by a team from the University of Warwick and the Queen Mary University of London.

This popular diet includes foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, whole grains and fish. Those who follow the diet consume red meat, cheese and egg in moderation.

More than 1,250 pregnant women from across the UK participated in the study. Participants were advised to consume 0.5 litres of extra virgin olive oil and30g of mixed nuts daily. They were also provided with dietary advice regularly throughout their pregnancy. The results showed pregnant women who followed a Mediterranean diet had a reduced risk of developing diabetes by 35 per cent. The team also found women on this diet gained1.25kg less weight on average compared to the other women following other diets during the antenatal period.

The study suggests pregnant women who already suffer from health issues, like high lipid levels and chronic hypertension, could greatly benefit from this diet. "This is the first study to show that pregnant women at high risk of complications may benefit from a Mediterranean-style diet to reduce their weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes," Shakila Thangaratinam, a professor from the Queen Mary University of London, told a news portal. Adding, "Implementing this diet seems to be effective and acceptable to women.”

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs when pregnant women develop high blood sugar. Fatigue and dry mouth are common symptoms of the condition. If it becomes serious, this condition can cause severe health issues like polyhydramnios, pre-eclampsia, and stillbirth.

Researchers believe dietary guidelines that include a Mediterranean-style diet could benefit pregnant women who are at high risk of the condition. "Women who are at risk of gestational diabetes should be encouraged to take action early on in pregnancy, by consuming more nuts, olive oil, fruit and unrefined grains, while reducing their intake of animal fats and sugar," Thangaratinam told a news portal.

The study's findings were originally published in the journal PLOS Medicine.