Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions

IntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a myriad of maternal and fetal complications that severely compromise the mother and child's future health. Dietary interventions are effective in reducing the risk of GDM. However, when diagnosed with GDM in 2nd and 3rd the eff...

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Main Authors: Anuja Phalle, Devaki Gokhale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Global Women's Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1510260/full
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author Anuja Phalle
Devaki Gokhale
author_facet Anuja Phalle
Devaki Gokhale
author_sort Anuja Phalle
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a myriad of maternal and fetal complications that severely compromise the mother and child's future health. Dietary interventions are effective in reducing the risk of GDM. However, when diagnosed with GDM in 2nd and 3rd the effectiveness of these interventions on maternal and fetal health remains unexplored. Therefore, this review critically examines existing literature for short- and long-term maternal and fetal outcomes of dietary interventions followed after GDM diagnosis.MethodologyAn extensive literature search through Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted to include original, full-text articles published in English between 2013 and April 2024. All randomized controlled trials, case-control, prospective cohort studies, and longitudinal follow-up trials that recruited GDM mothers following dietary interventions upon diagnosis were included. However, pre-pregnancy interventional, retrospective, and prospective studies reporting maternal and fetal outcomes in healthy pregnant women were excluded. This review followed the Narrative Review Checklist by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Elsevier.ResultsWe reviewed the effects of eight popular dietary interventions on various short and long-term materno-fetal outcomes in women recently diagnosed with GDM. Dietary interventions such as Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and low-GI positively affected both short and long-term maternal and fetal outcomes. In contrast, fasting during Ramadan negatively affected maternal and fetal outcomes. Studies with low-carb, high-protein, and calorie restriction reported mixed findings for materno-fetal outcomes. Although certain dietary interventions have shown beneficial effects in the past literature, their findings were limited by small sample size, short intervention duration, and inconsistencies in the outcomes and population studied, compromising the quality of evidence. Further, we observed a scarcity of studies exploring the effect of dietary interventions followed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters after being diagnosed with GDM on long-term materno-fetal outcomes.ConclusionDietary interventions followed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters after the diagnosis of GDM may be crucial for preventing short and long-term materno-fetal complications; however, there is a lack of strong evidence to support this notion. Future studies are recommended to monitor the long-term materno-fetal outcomes of GDM.
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spelling doaj-art-5a2aa8fe299342b1b5e96e48f3aefd402025-08-20T02:45:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592025-02-01610.3389/fgwh.2025.15102601510260Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventionsAnuja PhalleDevaki GokhaleIntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a myriad of maternal and fetal complications that severely compromise the mother and child's future health. Dietary interventions are effective in reducing the risk of GDM. However, when diagnosed with GDM in 2nd and 3rd the effectiveness of these interventions on maternal and fetal health remains unexplored. Therefore, this review critically examines existing literature for short- and long-term maternal and fetal outcomes of dietary interventions followed after GDM diagnosis.MethodologyAn extensive literature search through Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted to include original, full-text articles published in English between 2013 and April 2024. All randomized controlled trials, case-control, prospective cohort studies, and longitudinal follow-up trials that recruited GDM mothers following dietary interventions upon diagnosis were included. However, pre-pregnancy interventional, retrospective, and prospective studies reporting maternal and fetal outcomes in healthy pregnant women were excluded. This review followed the Narrative Review Checklist by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Elsevier.ResultsWe reviewed the effects of eight popular dietary interventions on various short and long-term materno-fetal outcomes in women recently diagnosed with GDM. Dietary interventions such as Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and low-GI positively affected both short and long-term maternal and fetal outcomes. In contrast, fasting during Ramadan negatively affected maternal and fetal outcomes. Studies with low-carb, high-protein, and calorie restriction reported mixed findings for materno-fetal outcomes. Although certain dietary interventions have shown beneficial effects in the past literature, their findings were limited by small sample size, short intervention duration, and inconsistencies in the outcomes and population studied, compromising the quality of evidence. Further, we observed a scarcity of studies exploring the effect of dietary interventions followed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters after being diagnosed with GDM on long-term materno-fetal outcomes.ConclusionDietary interventions followed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters after the diagnosis of GDM may be crucial for preventing short and long-term materno-fetal complications; however, there is a lack of strong evidence to support this notion. Future studies are recommended to monitor the long-term materno-fetal outcomes of GDM.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1510260/fullgestational diabetes mellitusdietary regimensramadan fastingDASH dietcalorie restrictionMediterranean diet
spellingShingle Anuja Phalle
Devaki Gokhale
Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
Frontiers in Global Women's Health
gestational diabetes mellitus
dietary regimens
ramadan fasting
DASH diet
calorie restriction
Mediterranean diet
title Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
title_full Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
title_fullStr Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
title_full_unstemmed Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
title_short Maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a narrative review of dietary interventions
title_sort maternal and fetal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus a narrative review of dietary interventions
topic gestational diabetes mellitus
dietary regimens
ramadan fasting
DASH diet
calorie restriction
Mediterranean diet
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1510260/full
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