Higher dietary vitamin C intake is associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal cohort study

Adopting a diet packed with fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C may help halt the occurrence of gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

This study examined if there is a tie between increased dietary intake of foods containing vitamin C and reduced risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. With the aid of validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers collated dietary information from 3009 pregnant women. All the participants were frequently screened for gestational diabetes during the course of the study.

Researchers observed that habitual consumers of foods rich in vitamin C had better chances of preventing gestational diabetes than their counterparts who ate little or none of these foods. "Hence, sufficient vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C should be recommended to protect pregnant women from developing gestational diabetes," the researchers concluded.