Can the DASH diet prevent high birth weight?

Discover how a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can transform pregnancy health by lowering the chances of large-for-gestational-age newborns and promoting lifelong wellness.

Study: Greater adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet during pregnancy reduces the likelihood of having a large-for-gestational-age newborn. Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines the effects of pregnant mothers following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on their children’s birth weights.

The risks of large babies

Newborn babies who are considered large-for-gestational-age (LGA) have abnormal fat accumulation and lower insulin sensitivity. As a result, LGA infants may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight and developing type 2 diabetes mellitus or cardiometabolic disease as adults.

LGA babies are more likely to be born to overweight women, those with excessive weight gain during pregnancy, older mothers, and those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Dietary management for optimum health during pregnancy protects against multiple complications and promotes proper fetal development and weight gain.

DASH and health outcomes in pregnancy

The DASH diet is high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Following this diet also involves the reduced consumption of processed and red meat, sugar-sweetened drinks, and sodium.

Previous research indicates a lower risk of pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, and LGA babies among mothers who follow the DASH diet. However, the effects of the DASH diet during pregnancy on infant birth weight remain unclear.

About the current study

The current study, conducted in Brazil, examines birth weight according to gestational age in relation to the degree of adherence to the DASH diet. The analysis included 601 mother-baby dyads with a mean maternal age of 27 years, about 44% of whom were overweight during pregnancy.

The proportion of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and LGA babies was 10% and 13%, respectively. Women with LGA babies were more likely to be taller, overweight, and have a higher body mass index (BMI) before they became pregnant.

The overall consumption of nuts and oilseeds was lower than in other international studies, which may be attributed to demographic and socioeconomic factors. Beans accounted for most of the intake of this component.

Oilseeds, nuts, and legumes contain soluble fiber, vegetable protein, and various fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6. Each of these nutrients reduces cholesterol and regulates blood glucose levels, promoting normal birth weight in newborns.

Nuts and legume consumption was markedly reduced between different birth weight classes. For example, women who consumed 25 grams less nuts and legumes were likelier to have LGA babies than those with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) babies.

DASH adherence reduces LGA risk

After compensating for confounding factors, women who closely followed the DASH diet were at a 49% reduced risk of having LGA babies compared to those with the lowest adherence to this diet. There was no observed association between adherence to DASH and the risk of having SGA babies.

Previously, DASH diet adherence has been associated with a 71% reduced risk of GDM and a 73% reduced risk of LGA babies. These findings reflect the potential of healthy dietary patterns to promote metabolic regulation in pregnancy.

Several studies have also reported that following the DASH diet for four weeks reduced fasting glucose levels, serum insulin, and inflammatory markers. Although women in the current study did not have GDM, the metabolic benefits associated with the DASH diet may have contributed to improved fetomaternal outcomes.

The current study is unusual in that it examines the effectiveness of the DASH diet in a poorer population, unlike most studies, which often focus on high-income groups. Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the effects of DASH adherence in pregnant Brazilian women rather than pregnant women residing in North America or Europe.

Conclusion

Although overall adherence to the DASH diet among Brazilian women during pregnancy was low, the highest tertile of adherence was associated with a reduced risk of LGA babies. The study findings emphasize the importance of nutritional management during pregnancy that promotes fetomaternal nutrition and healthy outcomes using locally accessible foods like beans while reducing the consumption of sugar, salt, and processed foods. Nevertheless, additional studies confirming these associations’ causal nature must be conducted to validate the findings.