This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and birth weight outcomes in a cohort of Chinese women. The study included 4,184 mother-child pairs from the Iodine Status in Pregnancy and Offspring Health Cohort. Maternal diets were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and three dietary patterns were identified: plant-based, animal-based, and processed food and beverage. The results showed that higher adherence to the plant-based diet, particularly high in carbohydrate intake, was associated with a higher risk of macrosomia (excessive birth weight). Potato consumption, in particular, was positively associated with macrosomia risk. Excluding potatoes from the plant-based dietary pattern reduced this association. No significant relationship was found between animal-based or processed food and beverage dietary patterns and birth weight outcomes. These findings suggest that a plant-based diet with high carbohydrate intake may increase the risk of macrosomia in Chinese women, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.
Source: Canva