Pregnancy Diet High in Sugary Drinks, Fried Foods May Raise Child's Risk of Diabetes: Study Shows - Video

A diet high in inflammatory foods during pregnancy may increase a child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes, according to new Danish research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. The study found that for every unit increase in a dietary measure of inflammation, there was a 16% higher risk of type 1 diabetes in offspring.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Its global incidence is rising by 3-4% annually, especially in developed countries, pointing to environmental factors. As the immune system forms early in life, researchers are exploring how maternal diet during pregnancy may influence a child's immune development.

To explore this connection, researchers analyzed data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC), tracking 67,701 mother-child pairs from 1996 to 2002. At around 25 weeks of pregnancy, women completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire covering 360 items across 38 food groups. From this, researchers calculated an “energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index” (EDII) to assess the inflammatory potential of their diets.

Foods with pro-inflammatory properties included red and processed meats, sugary drinks, refined grains, deep-fried items, and products high in added sugar or trans fats. Anti-inflammatory foods included garlic, tomatoes, whole grains, leafy greens, fruits, and fish. Over a 17-year follow-up period, 281 children developed type 1 diabetes, with an average age of diagnosis at 10.

“A low-grade inflammatory state secondary to an altered immune cell profile, which triggers pro-inflammatory pathways, is increasingly acknowledged as a critical early-life factor influencing offspring health,” wrote the researchers. Notably, three maternal factors—pro-inflammatory diet, gluten intake, and smoking—were found to independently predict type 1 diabetes risk.

The researchers conclude that “mid-pregnancy may be a critical period during which the fetus is particularly susceptible to maternal lifestyle influences” in shaping the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood or adolescence.

Reference: Noorzae R, Bjerregaard AA, Halldorsson TI, et al

Association between a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes risk in offspring: prospective cohort study

J Epidemiol Community Health Published Online First: 01 July 2025. doi: 10.1136/jech-2024-223320