Fruits and vegetable consumption during pregnancy may prevent gestational diabetes: Study

China: Pregnant women who had consumed an appropriate quantity of fruits and vegetables throughout their pregnancy are at lower risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), reveals a recent study. However, excess consumption of potatoes, fruit juices and certain fruits (such as grape, melon) was shown to be associated with an increased GDM risk. The study appears in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 

Yun Zhang, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China, and the team conducted the study with an aim to determine the potential association between mid-pregnancy consumption of fruit, vegetable, and fruit juice and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in an observational study

The study included 2987 pregnant women in China. The researchers assessed the consumption of fruit, vegetable and fruit juice during 13–28 of pregnancy using 24 h dietary recall method and food frequency questionnaire. The association between fruit, vegetable and fruit juice consumption (in quartiles) and GDM risks was assessed. The incidences of GDM was compared at various fruit, vegetable and fruit juice consumption using one-Way ANOVA after adjusting for gestational age, family history of diabetes, physical activity, fiber, and meat intake.