Association between plant-based or animal-based dietary pattern and plasma glucose during oral glucose tolerance test among Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: This study explored whether plant-based and animal-based dietary patterns are associated with plasma glucose levels during oral glucose tolerance test in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). DESIGN: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a Food Frequency Questionnaire to collect dietary data. Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between dietary patterns and plasma glucose levels. Stratified analyses were conducted according to maternal age, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and other confounders. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study, conducted in January 2022 in two hospitals in Fujian, China, involved 424 women diagnosed with GDM using a 75 g 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 gestational weeks. RESULTS: Six maternal dietary patterns (plant based and animal based) were identified. Participants with plant-based pattern had lower 2-hour plasma glucose levels than those with animal-based pattern (β=−0.314; 95% CI (−0.596 to –0.032)). After adjusting the regression model covariates, this significant association remained (β=−0.288; 95% CI (−0.568 to –0.008)) and appeared more pronounced in women aged 30 years or above and those with prepregnancy BMI<24 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: Plant-based pattern is associated with lower plasma glucose levels in women with GDM, which is valuable information for dietary counselling and intervention.