A comparison of low glycaemic index carbohydrate diet versus no dietary intervention in pregnancy to prevent recurrence of a large baby

ISRCTN ISRCTN54392969
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN54392969
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
22/04/2009
Registration date
10/08/2009
Last edited
13/02/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Fionnuala McAuliffe
Scientific

UCD Obstetrics & Gynaecology
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science
University College Dublin
National Maternity Hospital
Holles Street
Dublin
2
Ireland

Phone +353 (0)1 637 3216/3296
Email fmcauliffe@nmh.ie

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised controlled trial of low glycaemic index carbohydrate diet versus no dietary intervention in the prevention of recurrence of foetal macrosomia
Study hypothesisCurrent information as of 01/09/2009:
1. Amongst women at risk of a macrosomic baby, a low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy is associated with reduction in birth weight centiles when compared to no dietary intervention
2. Amongst women at risk of a macrosomic baby, a low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy is associated with less maternal weight gain compared to no dietary intervention

Initial information at time of registration:
1. Amongst women at risk of a macrosomic baby, a low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy is associated with reduction in birth weight centiles when compared to no dietary intervention
2. Amongst women at risk of a macrosomic baby, a low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy is associated with less maternal weight gain compared to no dietary intervention
3. A low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy when compared to no dietary intervention is associated with differences in urinary metabolomics
4. A low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy when compared to no dietary intervention is associated with differences in cord leptin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin
5. A low glycaemic index diet in pregnancy when compared to no dietary intervention is associated with differences in placental villous and vascular development
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Committee at the National Maternity Hospital, June 2006
ConditionFoetal macrosomia
InterventionMethods:
Women choosing to enter the study will give written informed consent. Data will be collected on those women approached for study participation and who declined to ensure those participating are representative of this entire group.

Patients will be randomised into two arms: a control arm which will receive no dietary intervention during pregnancy and a diet arm which will be commenced on a low glycaemic index diet from 14 weeks gestation to delivery under dietetic supervision. Each patient in the diet arm will receive an individualised diet which will be energy matched as appropriate to a patients' average caloric intake with the aim of reducing glycaemic load and glycaemic excursions. This diet is eucaloric and is not designed to promote weight loss. In the diet arm, the aim for weight gain during pregnancy will be a 8 - 10 kg for a woman of normal weight and 5 - 7 kg in women with weight greater than 100 kg. In the diet arm each patient will have one dietetic session, in groups of 4 - 6 at 12 - 16 weeks gestation, with the aim of commencing the diet at 16 weeks gestation.

At booking visit all patients will have their height and weight recorded and their BMI will be calculated (maternal weight [kg]/height [m^2]). Additional demographic data including smoking history, socio-economic group (SEG) and paternal weight and height will be recorded.

In addition to routine care the following additional tests will be performed:
1. Food frequency questionnaire at 12, 28 weeks gestation and 3 months post-partum. Average weekly exercise will also be recorded as part of this questionnaire. The food questionnaire will use questions from section I of the 'SLAN (Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition) National Health and Lifestyle Survey' 2002. This has been validated in an Irish population. At 3 months postpartum the questionnaire will assess compliance to the low glycaemic index diet following pregnancy. Information at 12 weeks will allow baseline information to be obtained. Assessment at 28 weeks gestation will assess compliance to the diet in the intervention arm.
2. At each visit maternal weight will be recorded: 12, 20, 28, 34, 36, 38, 40 weeks' gestation
3. At 12 weeks fasting blood glucose [and insulin, leptin and IGF-1 - removed 01/09/2009], mid upper arm circumference and body mass index will be taken. [This will assess baseline insulin resistance and glucose status. Assessment of leptin and IGF-1 will allow comparison between foetal and neonatal size and maternal growth factors - removed 01/09/2009]
[4. Urine analysis for nitrogen and metabolomic profile. This will assess the effect of diet on metabolism as one may expect protein and kreb cycle products to differ between the groups. Urinary nitrogen measurement will be an indicator of protein breakdown for energy substrate - removed 01/09/2009]
5. Glucose challenge test at 28 weeks. It is important to determine the presence of gestational diabetes in this group. If gestational diabetes is present care will continue in the multidisciplinary diabetic clinic.
6. Foetal growth ultrasound at 34 weeks. Foetal biometry including anterior abdominal wall thickness will be measured to ensure normal foetal growth velocity and for comparison to the birth weight.
[7. At the 34 week scan, patients in the diet group will be asked to complete a simple questionnaire comprising 5 questions to determine compliance with diet
8. Cord bloods for insulin, leptin and IGF-1. These will be correlated with maternal growth factors, maternal and foetal weight.
9. Placental biopsy for assessment of placental architecture. A placental sample will be retained in both arms of the study for later analysis to determine if there is a relationship between placental villous and vascular morphology and recurrence of macrosomia - removed 01/09/2009]
10. Neonatal anthropometry. At delivery, infant birth weight, infant length and head circumference will be recorded in all cases as is current routine practice. [The ponderal index will be computed - removed 01/09/2009]

Randomisation:
This will be achieved using computer generated allocations in a ratio of 1:1 contained in sealed opaque envelopes.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMean birth weight centiles and ponderal indices in each group, measured at 14 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks, at birth and 3 months post-partum
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent information as of 01/09/2009:
Differences between the two groups in maternal weight gain in pregnancy, measured at 14 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks, at birth and 3 months post-partum

Initial information at time of registration:
Differences between the two groups:
1. Maternal weight gain in pregnancy
2. Urinary metabolomics
3. Cord insulin, leptin and IGF-1
4. Placental weight, villous and vascular development
Outcomes will be measured at 14 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks, at birth and 3 months post-partum
Overall study start date01/01/2007
Overall study end date30/12/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants700 women
Participant inclusion criteriaSecundigravid women of reproductive age (greater than 18 years and less than 45 years) whose first baby was macrosomic (birth weight greater than 4000 g) will be recruited at first booking visit from the antenatal clinic at the National Maternity Hospital
Participant exclusion criteria1. Diabetes
2. Other medical disorders
[3. Weight greater than 120 kg - removed 01/09/2009]
4. Poor previous pregnancy outcome
Recruitment start date01/01/2007
Recruitment end date30/12/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Ireland

Study participating centre

University College Dublin
Dublin
2
Ireland

Sponsor information

Health Research Board (HRB) (Ireland)
Government

73 Lower Baggot St
Dublin
2
Ireland

Phone +353 (0)1 234 5000
Email hrb@hrb.ie
Website http://www.hrb.ie
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/003hb2249

Funders

Funder type

Government

Health Research Board (HRB) (Ireland)
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Alternative name(s)
HRB
Location
Ireland

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 23/04/2010 Yes No
Results article results 31/10/2013 Yes No
Results article results 01/08/2014 Yes No
Results article secondary analysis results 01/11/2014 Yes No
Results article results 07/10/2015 Yes No
Results article secondary analysis results 02/08/2017 Yes No
Results article results 16/10/2017 Yes No
Results article results 01/07/2020 13/11/2019 Yes No
Results article DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) dietary pattern and maternal blood pressure in pregnancy 01/10/2020 09/08/2021 Yes No
Results article insights from the ROLO young person's advisory group 09/02/2023 13/02/2023 Yes No

Editorial Notes

13/02/2023: Publication reference added.
09/08/2021: Publication reference added.
13/11/2019: Publication reference added.
19/10/2017: Publication reference added.
09/08/2017: Publication reference added.
01/08/2016: Publication reference added.
01/09/2009: This record was updated to include an amended protocol; all changes can be found in the relevant section under the above update date.