Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and gestational diabetes and dietary intakes among young adult offspring

Background/Objectives: Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with increased fat deposition in adult offspring. This study examined whether maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) or GDM are associated with dietary quality or intake in adult offspring. Subjects/Methods: In two Finnish longitudinal cohorts (ESTER and AYLS), 882 participants (mean age 24.2 years, SD 1.3) completed a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was evaluated with the Recommended Finnish Diet Index (RDI). Groups were: offspring of normoglycaemic mothers with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (ONO, n=155), offspring of mothers with GDM regardless of BMI (OGDM, n=190), and controls (maternal normal weight and no GDM; n=537). Results: Among men, daily energy and macronutrient intakes were similar in ONO and controls, but adjusted daily carbohydrate intake (% of energy) was higher in ONO-men by 2.2 E% (95% CI 0.4, 4.0). In ONO-women, macronutrient shares were similar; total energy intake appeared lower (-587.2 kJ/day; 95% CI -1192.0, 4.4) but attenuated after adjustment. RDI adherence was similar (men mean difference 0.40; 95% CI -0.38, 1.18; women 0.25; 95% CI -0.50, 1.00). In OGDM vs. controls, total energy, macronutrients, and RDI were similar in both sexes. Conclusions: Male offspring exposed to maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity had higher daily carbohydrate intake in adulthood; prenatal exposure to GDM was not associated with adult dietary intakes.

Nina Kaseva, Marja Vääräsmäki, Hanna-Maria Matinolli, Marika Sipola, Marjaana Tikanmäki, Noora Kanerva, Kati Heinonen, Aulikki Lano, Dieter Wolke, Sture Andersson, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Katri Räikkönen, Johan G. Eriksson, Satu Männistö, Eero Kajantie