Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary protein intake and sources in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to further investigate the effects of total protein and animal protein intake on the risk of GD...

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Main Authors: Rui Wang, Xingyi Jin, Jian Zhu, Xiaocheng Li, Jian Chen, Chunyan Yuan, Xiaoli Wang, Yufeng Zheng, Shaokang Wang, Guiju Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07335-3
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author Rui Wang
Xingyi Jin
Jian Zhu
Xiaocheng Li
Jian Chen
Chunyan Yuan
Xiaoli Wang
Yufeng Zheng
Shaokang Wang
Guiju Sun
author_facet Rui Wang
Xingyi Jin
Jian Zhu
Xiaocheng Li
Jian Chen
Chunyan Yuan
Xiaoli Wang
Yufeng Zheng
Shaokang Wang
Guiju Sun
author_sort Rui Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary protein intake and sources in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to further investigate the effects of total protein and animal protein intake on the risk of GDM. Methods A case-control study was conducted, which involved 947 pregnant women in the second trimester from three hospitals in Jiangsu, China. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Two models (leave-one-out and partition models) in nutritional epidemiology were used for substitution analysis, and logistic regression was performed to explore the relationships, adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Results After adjusting for confounding factors, total protein intake was negatively correlated with GDM risk (OR [95% CI], 0.10 [0.04–0.27]; P<0.001). Animal protein also negatively correlated with GDM risk, but this became insignificant when total calorie, carbohydrate and fat intake were added as covariates to the analysis (0.68 [0.34–1.34]; P = 0.263). No association was found between plant protein and GDM(1.04 [0.69–1.58]; P = 0.852). Replacing carbohydrates with an equal energy ratio(5% of total energy intake) of total protein, animal protein and plant protein respectively reduced the risk of GDM by 45%, 46% and 51%. Conclusions The intake of total protein and animal protein, especially eggs, dairy products, and fish, can reduce the risk of GDM while consuming unprocessed red meat increases the risk. There is no significant association between the intakes of plant protein, processed meat, and poultry meat and the occurrence of GDM. The results of this study are expected to provide a basis for precise nutritional education, health guidance during pregnancy, and early prevention of GDM.
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spelling doaj-art-b0bc6f05c8c7454a95d8fdeace3b6c8a2025-08-20T03:05:44ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-03-0125111110.1186/s12884-025-07335-3Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitusRui Wang0Xingyi Jin1Jian Zhu2Xiaocheng Li3Jian Chen4Chunyan Yuan5Xiaoli Wang6Yufeng Zheng7Shaokang Wang8Guiju Sun9Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast UniversityDanyang Maternal and Child Health HospitalNanjing Center for Disease Control and PreventionNanjing Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast UniversityXinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Maternal and Child Health HospitalAksu Region Maternal and Child Health HospitalKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast UniversityAbstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary protein intake and sources in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to further investigate the effects of total protein and animal protein intake on the risk of GDM. Methods A case-control study was conducted, which involved 947 pregnant women in the second trimester from three hospitals in Jiangsu, China. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Two models (leave-one-out and partition models) in nutritional epidemiology were used for substitution analysis, and logistic regression was performed to explore the relationships, adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Results After adjusting for confounding factors, total protein intake was negatively correlated with GDM risk (OR [95% CI], 0.10 [0.04–0.27]; P<0.001). Animal protein also negatively correlated with GDM risk, but this became insignificant when total calorie, carbohydrate and fat intake were added as covariates to the analysis (0.68 [0.34–1.34]; P = 0.263). No association was found between plant protein and GDM(1.04 [0.69–1.58]; P = 0.852). Replacing carbohydrates with an equal energy ratio(5% of total energy intake) of total protein, animal protein and plant protein respectively reduced the risk of GDM by 45%, 46% and 51%. Conclusions The intake of total protein and animal protein, especially eggs, dairy products, and fish, can reduce the risk of GDM while consuming unprocessed red meat increases the risk. There is no significant association between the intakes of plant protein, processed meat, and poultry meat and the occurrence of GDM. The results of this study are expected to provide a basis for precise nutritional education, health guidance during pregnancy, and early prevention of GDM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07335-3Dietary proteinGestational diabetes mellitusSubstitution analysisPrenatal nutritionPregnancy diet
spellingShingle Rui Wang
Xingyi Jin
Jian Zhu
Xiaocheng Li
Jian Chen
Chunyan Yuan
Xiaoli Wang
Yufeng Zheng
Shaokang Wang
Guiju Sun
Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Dietary protein
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Substitution analysis
Prenatal nutrition
Pregnancy diet
title Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
title_full Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
title_fullStr Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
title_full_unstemmed Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
title_short Association between protein intake and sources in mid-pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
title_sort association between protein intake and sources in mid pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
topic Dietary protein
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Substitution analysis
Prenatal nutrition
Pregnancy diet
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07335-3
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