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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Healthy dietary patterns and common pregnancy complications: a prospective and longitudinal study
Mengying Li1, Jagteshwar Grewal1, Stefanie N Hinkle1
1Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Background:
Adherence to alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), alternate Mediterranean diet (AMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) has been linked to lower risks of chronic diseases. However, their associations with common pregnancy complications are unclear.
Objectives:
This study investigates the associations of AHEI, AMED, and DASH during periconception and pregnancy with common pregnancy complication risks.
Methods:
The study included 1887 pregnant women from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons. Women responded to an FFQ at 8-13 gestational weeks, and they performed a 24-h dietary recall at 16-22 and 24-29 wk. Gestational diabetes (GDM), gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery were ascertained using medical records.
Results:
Healthier diet indicated by higher AHEI, AMED, and DASH scores was generally related to lower risks of pregnancy complications. Significant inverse associations were observed between AHEI score reported at 16-22 wk and GDM risk [adjusted RR (95% CI), highest (Q4) vs. lowest quartile (Q1): 0.32 (0.16, 0.66), P-trend = 0.002]; DASH score reported at both 8-13 [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.45 (0.17, 1.17), P-trend = 0.04] and 16-22 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.19 (0.05, 0.65), P-trend = 0.01] and gestational hypertension risk; AHEI score reported at 24-29 wk and preeclampsia risk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.31 (0.11, 0.87), P-trend = 0.03]; AMED score reported at 8-13 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.50 (0.25, 1.01), P-trend = 0.03] and DASH score reported at 24-29 wk [adjusted RR (95% CI), Q4 vs. Q1: 0.50, (0.26, 0.96), P-trend = 0.03] and preterm delivery risk.
Conclusions:
Adherence to AHEI, AMED, or DASH during periconception and pregnancy was related to lower risks of GDM, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery.This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00912132.
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