Prospective study of red meat intake in the first and second trimesters and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chengdu in 2017

Objective To evaluate the red meat intake of pregnant women in Chengdu area and explore the effect of red meat intake in the first and second trimesters on gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM). Methods From February to July 2017, a prospective study was conducted among healthy singleton pregnant women within 8-14 weeks of gestation in a prenatal clinic of maternal-and-child medical institution in Chengdu City through purposive sampling. Data on maternal demographic characteristics was collected through questionnaire in early pregnancy. 3-day 24 hour dietary recall was used to collect dietary intake information in the first and second trimesters. The 75 g oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)was conducted at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, and GDM was diagnosed according to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pregnancy Diabetes in China(2014). Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between tertiles of red meat intake and the risk of GDM in the first and second trimesters. Results A total of 985 valid samples were followed up. The mean intake of total meat and red meat in middle pregnancy(102. 9 g/d and 74. 6 g/d) was higher than that in early pregnancy(70. 7 g/d and 52. 0 g/d). The difference was statistically significant(Pl0. 05). Red meat accounted for 73. 6% and 72. 5% of total meat intake in early and middle pregnancy, respectively. After adjusting the confounding factors, multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis showed the risk of GDM was 1. 499 times(95%CI 1. 028-2. 185) in the highest red meat intake(g86 g/d)women compared with the lowest red meat intake(l44 g/d) women in the second trimester. No association was found between red meat intake in the first trimester and the occurrence of GDM(OR=1. 029, 95%CI 0. 716-1. 481). Conclusion Pregnant women in Chengdu area have excessive intake of red meat in the second trimester. Higher intake of red meat in the second trimester(g86 g/d) may increase the risk of gestational diabetes.