Association of Pregnancy Diet with Metabolic Adverse Outcomes in Pregnant Women and Their Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The diet during pregnancy has long-term effects on the health outcomes of both mothers and their children. This study aimed to undertake a systematic review to explore the association of high-fiber diet, DASH diet, and Mediterranean diet with metabolic outcomes among mothers and their children. Methods: We searched for relevant articles published from Jan 2012 to Nov 2022 through PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase. Randomized trials and observational studies that considered high-fiber diet, DASH diet, Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and metabolic outcomes in pregnant women and their children were included in the systematic review. Thirty studies were included involving 41,424 pregnant women and children. Results: A high-fiber diet was associated with reduced risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.11-0.42), pregnancy hypertensive disorders (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25-0.81), and lower birth weight (-109.54 g; 95% CI: -204.84 to -14.24). The adherences to the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet were associated with reduced risk of GDM (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45-0.80; OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.26-0.51), and lower risk of excessive gestational weight gain (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.18-0.93; OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.16-0.57). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of small for gestational age, fetal growth restriction, and childhood overweight in the progeny (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.95; OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28-0.89; OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97). Conclusions: During pregnancy, the highfiber diet and adherences to the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet were associated with lower risk of adverse metabolic outcomes in pregnant women and their children.