Nutritional Interventions and Lifestyle Changing in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common pregnancy complication, and its prevalence is increasing, as obesity is more prevalent in women at reproductive age. Food choices and patterns that might reduce incidence are of great importance, and the present review aims to offer a perspective on different types of nutritional interventions in GDM prevention. Methods: A literature review in the PubMed database was conducted in order to identify full-text, English, randomized control trials and observational clinical studies, published in the last 10 years, that are the most relevant to emphasize the usefulness of nutritional and lifestyle interventions in prevention of GDM. Results and discussions: Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria and were relevant for the search. Their outcomes were reported and analyzed. Dietary interventions were very heterogeneous, including general counselling of healthier eating patterns, recommendations to follow a Mediterranean dietary pattern or to choose low-glycemic-index foods, and dietary advice focusing on increasing consumption of some food groups or vitamin D or probiotics supplementations. Conclusions: Among these interventions, a moderate-intensity lifestyle intervention optimizing participants’ consumption of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits; portion control; lowering intake of ultra-processed food and simple sugars; and Mediterranean diet intervention were the most successful in reducing GDM incidence.