Mediterranean diet has great benefits for expectant mothers: study

TUESDAY, July 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) – Could Mediterranean Diet During Pregnancy Help Combat Gestational Diabetes and Excessive Weight Gain?

A British study says the answer is yes.

But the researchers added that the diet – rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and olive oil – did not reduce the overall risk of complications for the mother and the baby.

The new study included more than 1,200 pregnant women in five maternity homes in London and Birmingham, England.

Women who followed a Mediterranean-style diet – comprising 30 grams of mixed nuts a day and extra virgin olive oil – had 35% less risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy ("gestational diabetes" ) and gained 2.75 kg less average, than others.

The findings suggest that a Mediterranean-type diet could benefit obese women, people with high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol (lipid) levels prior to conception, according to the authors. The study was published on July 23 in the journal PLOS Medicine.

"This is the first study showing that pregnant women at high risk of complications could benefit from a Mediterranean-type diet in order to reduce their weight gain and their risk of gestational diabetes," said the author of the study, Shakila Thangaratinam. She is a professor of maternal and perinatal health at Queen Mary University in London.

Thangaratinam said in a university press release that women at risk of gestational diabetes should be encouraged to adopt a healthier diet early in pregnancy. Specifically, they should eat more nuts, olive oil, unrefined fruits and grains, she said, while limiting animal fats and sugar.

Dr. Bbadel Wattar, co-author of the study, explained that the impact of a Mediterranean diet on high-risk pregnant women and the possibility of adapting it to a very ethnically diverse population were not yet clear. He is a lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Queen Mary and at the University of Warwick.

"We now know that pregnant women from a multi-ethnic, high-risk population and living in the city center are able to adapt their diet to a Mediterranean style, which can bring them to a new age. important benefits, including a reduction in weight gain and a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes, "Wattar said in the press release.

More information

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has more about pregnancy and nutrition.