Higher Alkylresorcinol Concentrations, a Consequence of Whole-Grain Intake, are Inversely Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Iceland

• Published in: The Journal of Nutrition
• Main Authors: Tryggvadottir, Ellen A, Halldorsson, Thorhallur I, Landberg, Rikard, Hrolfsdottir, Laufey, Birgisdottir, Bryndis E, Magnusdottir, Ola K, Hreidarsdottir, Ingibjorg T, Hardardottir, Hildur, Gunnarsdottir, Ingibjorg
• Other Authors: University of Iceland Research Fund, Landspitali University Hospital
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2021
• Subjects: Nutrition and Dietetics; Medicine (miscellaneous); Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa449; http://academic.oup.com/jn/article-pdf/151/5/1159/37908309/nxaa449.pdf

ABSTRACT Background A diet rich in whole grains may provide benefits for pregnant women due to whole grains’ high nutritional value and dietary fiber content. Objectives To study the associations of whole-grain consumption, as well as the plasma alkylresorcinol concentration, a whole-grain consumption biomarker, in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnoses. Methods Subjects were women from the prospective study Pregnant Women in Iceland II (PREWICE II; n = 853) who attended their ultrasound appointment in gestational weeks 11–14 during the period from October 2017 to March 2018. During that visit, whole-grain consumption was estimated using a diet screening questionnaire, and blood samples were collected for analysis of plasma alkylresorcinols (ARs). Information on GDM diagnoses was later extracted from medical records. Multivariate log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the association of dietary whole-grain and AR concentrations with GDM. Results In total, 14.9% of the women adhered to the national food-based dietary guidelines (n = 127), which recommend 2 portions of whole grains daily. GDM was diagnosed in 127 women (14.9%). The frequency of whole-grain consumption was lower in women who were later diagnosed with GDM compared to the women without GDM (median, 5 times/week vs. 6 times/week, respectively; P = 0.02). This difference was reflected in the lower median concentration of total AR in women diagnosed with GDM (163 nmol/L vs. 209 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01). The quartile with the highest concentrations of AR had a RR of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27–0.90) of being diagnosed with GDM, in comparison to the lowest quartile. There was a significant dose response in the GDM risk with higher AR levels. Conclusions We found that a higher consumption of whole grains, reflected both by reported consumption according to the FFQ and AR biomarkers, was associated with a decreased risk of receiving a GDM diagnosis.