Study: Low-Glycemic Diet Inconclusive in Preventing Gestational Diabetes
By Danell Swim
May 1, 2008
One of the more troubling threats to a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy is a metabolic disorder known as gestational diabetes mellitus. The condition affects an estimated 4 percent of mothers in the United States, and up to 14 percent worldwide. Pregnancy-related diabetes increases health risks for mothers and their babies, so researchers are searching for a means to prevent the disorder.
“The main implications of our research are suggestions for more high quality, long-term trials in healthy pregnant women, with larger sample sizes and reporting all clinically relevant outcomes, to address dietary issues more thoroughly and provide more conclusive results,” said lead review author Joanna Tieu.
“Our results suggest that a low glycemic index diet may be a benefit to mother and child, however,” said Tieu, at the Women and Children’s Hospital at the University of Adelaide in Australia.
“This is because low glycemic index diets — such as fresh fruits and vegetables and unprocessed whole-grain foods — tend to slow down the digestion of food. Slow digestion allows the body to better adjust to the load of sugar coming in after a meal,” she said.
“While our results were promising, the evidence is not sufficient to recommend changes in clinical practices, because of the limited number of trials,” Tieu said.
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