title: Low-carbohydrate diet for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medical nutrition therapy based on the control of the amount and distribution of carbohydrates (CHO) is the initial treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but there is a need for randomized controlled trials comparing different dietary strategies. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a low-CHO diet for the treatment of GDM would lead to a lower rate of insulin treatment with similar pregnancy outcomes compared with a control diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 152 women with GDM were included in this open, randomized controlled trial and assigned to follow either a diet with low-CHO content (40% of the total diet energy content as CHO) or a control diet (55% of the total diet energy content as CHO). CHO intake was assessed by 3-day food records. The main pregnancy outcomes were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of women requiring insulin was not significantly different between the treatment groups (low CHO 54.7% vs. control 54.7%; P = 1). Daily food records confirmed a difference in the amount of CHO consumed between the groups (P = 0.0001). No differences were found in the obstetric and perinatal outcomes between the treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of women with GDM using a low-CHO diet did not reduce the number of women needing insulin and produced similar pregnancy outcomes. In GDM, CHO amount (40 vs. 55% of calories) did not influence insulin need or pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno-Castilla
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Merce
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergua
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arce
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez-Alonso
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mateu
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Linda R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balsells
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: Didac
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauricio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007662:Ketosis / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
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