OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between dietary habits and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Cantonese women.

METHDSThis a cross-sectional study included 571 pregnant women who underwent a 75-g oral glucose challenge test at the 24th to 28th gestational week. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used by three dieticians to evaluate all the subjects' dietary habits.

RESULTS13% of the investigated subjects were identified to have GDM (GDM⁺). No significant differences were found between the GDM⁺ and GDM⁻ groups in the intake of energy, macronutrients, fibers, or cholesterol. The amount of low- and middle-GI fruits consumed daily in the two groups was not statistically different, but the GDM⁺ subjects reported a significantly greater amount of high-GI fruit intake as well as energy-dense foods than the GDM⁻ subjects (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that increased consumption of energy-dense snack foods and high glycemic-index fruits were strongly associated with the risk of GDM.

CONCLUSIONLocal dietary composition (high-GI fruit and energy-dense foods) is closely related to the risk of GDM in Cantonese women, for whom intensive health education of dietary behavior is needed to control GDM.