Dietary epigallocatechin 3‐gallate supplement improves maternal and neonatal treatment outcome of gestational diabetes mellitus: a double‐blind randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus ( GDM ) is an increasing prevalent health risk in pregnant women. Epigallocatechin 3‐gallate ( EGCG ) is known to benefit the insulin secretory machinery. We aimed to investigate the effect of daily dietary EGCG supplementation on both the maternal and neonatal treatment outcomes in GDM ‐affected pregnancies. Methods In total, 472 pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy were diagnosed with GDM and subsequently enrolled into this trial. After exclusion, 404 patients were randomly assigned into EGCG and placebo study groups and subsequently administered either 500 mg of EGCG or placebo, respectively, on a daily basis until full term. The daily nutritional intake of all patients was monitored throughout the study. Maternal diabetic parameters at baseline and full term, including metabolism of glucose and insulin, as well as neonatal symptoms at birth, including birth weight, macrosomia, hypoglycaemia, respiratory distress and Apgar scores, were analysed. Results In total, 176 and 150 patients from the EGCG and placebo study groups, respectively, completed the trial. Patients from the EGCG group displayed significantly improved maternal diabetic parameters, and fewer cases of neonatal complications, compared to the placebo group. Conclusions Daily dietary EGCG supplement improves both maternal and neonatal treatment outcomes of GDM .