Potatoes linked to pregnancy diabetes

Wednesday January 13th, 2016

High potato consumption before pregnancy may raise the risk of gestational diabetes, researchers warned today.

Dietary guidelines in many countries recommend potatoes in the vegetable food group, despite suggestions that they can negatively affect glucose metabolism due to their rapidly absorbable starch content, according to researchers.

Dr Cuilin Zhang and colleagues at the US National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA, examined the potential risk. They used figures on 15,632 women taking part in the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2001). All participants were healthy before pregnancy. Their dietary habits were assessed every four years.

The women were followed up for ten years, during which there were self-reported 854 cases of gestational diabetes among 21,693 singleton pregnancies. "Women who consumed more potatoes before pregnancy had higher rates of developing gestational diabetes," the team writes in today's (13 January) British Medical Journal.

Those who ate two servings a week fewer of potatoes, but had other vegetables, legumes, and whole grain foods instead, had a 9-12% lower risk of gestational diabetes.

Dr Zhang said last night: "Women who eat more potatoes before pregnancy may have higher risk of gestational diabetes <!- the form of diabetes that occurs or first diagnosed during pregnancy -> compared to women who consume fewer potatoes. Substituting potatoes with other vegetables, legumes or whole grains may help lower gestational diabetes risk."

She added: "Potatoes may not be regarded as healthy vegetables as they are rich in starchy, especially when being consumed at a high levels. They can significantly lead to deteriorated glucose response and a higher risk of diabetes in pregnancy when the consumption levels are high."

Janet Fyle, of the UK Royal College of Midwives, said pregnant women should not be deterred from eating potatoes.

She said: “We cannot draw definitive conclusions from this research nor apply the findings to everyone. The key message from the research should be about varying the diet. Potatoes are a healthy food group.

“We need to tailor our messages to pregnant women so that they are able to have a well balanced diet and not be put off eating them.”

Bao, W. et al. Pre-pregnancy potato consumption and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: prospective cohort study. BMJ 13 January 2016;doi: 10.1136/bmj.h6898 [abstract]

Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | Diabetes | Diet & Food | North America | Nursing & Midwifery | Women's Health & Gynaecology

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