Association between Pre-Pregnancy Consumption of Different Types of Vegetables and Gestational Diabetes in Women Living in Tehran, Iran

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, which increases the risk of complications, such as preterm birth and low glucose at birth. Several studies have reported that diet plays an important role in preventing and managing gestational diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-pregnancy vegetable consumption and gestational diabetes in women residing in Tehran, Iran.

This prospective study was performed on 1026 women. Glucose tolerance tests were performed at 24-28 weeks of gestation, and the diagnostic criteria by the American Diabetes Association were used to define gestational diabetes. The participants’ dietary intake was examined, using a reliable and valid food frequency questionnaire, and their consumption of vegetables (i.e., green leaves, allium vegetables, cabbage, stems, and roots) was determined. The association between vegetable consumption and gestational diabetes mellitus was examined by logistic regression analysis.

A total of 71 (6.9%) women were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The mean pre-gestational age and body mass index of the participants were 26.7±4.3 years and 25.4±4.5 kg/m2, respectively. The mean vegetable consumption in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes was 134.7±17.1 and 116.1±5.3 g/day, respectively. The intake of stem vegetables (P=0.05) and fruit vegetables (P=0.04) in women without gestational diabetes was significantly higher than that of women with gestational diabetes. Fruit vegetables reduced the risk of gestational diabetes. However, no significant association was found between the intake of other vegetables and the risk of gestational diabetes after adjusting for confounding variables.

Considering the low consumption of fruit vegetables in women with gestational diabetes and the direct association between their intake and the lower risk of gestational diabetes, it is recommended to increase the intake of these vegetables to prevent this disease.