Influence of the degree of adherence to the mediterranean diet and its components on cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy. The GESTAFIT project

Abstract

Background and aims: Studies regarding dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk markers during pregnancy are scarce. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether different degrees of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the MD components were associated with cardiometabolic markers and a clustered cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy. Methods and results: This study comprised 119 pregnant women from the GEStation and FITness (GESTAFIT) project. Dietary habits were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.). The Mediterranean Diet Score was employed to assess MD adherence. The following cardiometabolic markers were assessed: pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A greater MD adherence was associated with a better cardiometabolic status in cross-sectional (16th g.w. and 34th g.w.) and prospective analyses (MD adherence at the 16th g.w. and cardiometabolic markers at the 34th g.w.; SBP, DBP and HDL-C; all, p < 0.05). Participants with the highest MD adherence (Tertile 3) had a lower clustered cardiometabolic risk than those with the lowest MD adherence (Tertile 1) at the 16th and 34th g.w. (both, p < 0.05). A higher intake of fruits, vegetables and fish and a lower intake of refined cereals and red meat and subproducts were associated with a lower cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy (all, p < 0.05). Conclusion: A higher MD adherence, a greater intake of fruits, vegetables and fish and a lower intake of refined cereals and red meat and subproducts showed a cardioprotective effect throughout gestation.

Association of Mediterranean diet adherence during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal lipid, glycemic and inflammatory markers: The GESTAFIT project

“…with a food frequency questionnaire previously evaluated for validity in the Spanish nonpregnant adult population (Mataix et al, 2000). By means of the data obtained from the food frequency questionnaire, the Mediterranean Diet Score (Panagiotakos et al, 2006) was employed to assess MD adherence as previously done in this study sample (Flor‐Alemany et al, 2021). The Mediterranean Diet Score (Panagiotakos et al, 2006) consists of 11 variables (i.e., whole grain cereals, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish, olive oil, red wine, red meat and subproducts, poultry and whole dairy products) ranging from 0 to 5 according to their position in the MD pyramid (Bach‐Faig et al, 2011).…”

A 16-week multicomponent exercise training program improves menopause-related symptoms in middle-aged women. The FLAMENCO project randomized control trial

“…After considering relevant confounders suggested by the previous literature, Model I was unadjusted and Model II was adjusted for BMI and the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern. 24,26,27 Since other variables according to the literature showed a weak relationship or no relationship with the studied outcomes (eg, marital status and hormonal therapy), these variables were only tested as additional confounders in secondary sensitive analyses (data not shown). The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was applied to account for the random effect in multiple comparisons for all the tests included in the analysis with q ¼ 0.05.…”

“…Menopause- related symptoms were included in the regressions as dependent variables and the group (counseling or exercise) as the independent variable. After considering relevant confounders suggested by the previous literature, Model I was unadjusted and Model II was adjusted for BMI and the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern 24,26,27 . Since other variables according to the literature showed a weak relationship or no relationship with the studied outcomes (eg, marital status and hormonal therapy), these variables were only tested as additional confounders in secondary sensitive analyses (data not shown).…”

Maternal Dietary Inflammatory Index during Pregnancy Is Associated with Perinatal Outcomes: Results from the IMPACT BCN Trial

“…Diet significantly contributes to increasing the pregnancy risk from early gestation [ 8 ], playing a key role in the regulation of chronic inflammation in pregnant and non-pregnant adults [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In fact, several high-quality studies, reviews, and meta-analyses have demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet (MD) is a healthy dietary pattern and that higher adherence to MD is associated with the prevention of several diseases and lower inflammatory levels [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”