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Cited by 8Birth, Development, and HealthGestational Diabetes Research and ManagementObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Effect of a High-Protein and Low-Glycaemic Index Diet during Pregnancy in Women with Overweight or Obesity on Offspring Metabolic Health—A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Mogensen, Christina Sonne, Magkos, Faidon, Zingenberg, Helle, Geiker, Nina Rica Wium·2025·Pediatric Obesity
DOI 10.1111/ijpo.13191PMC PMC11936710
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are associated with higher birth weight and increased risk of childhood obesity. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of a high-protein and low-glycaemic-index (HPLGI) diet during pregnancy on offspring body composition and metabolic health. METHODS: who were randomly assigned to an HPLGI diet or a moderate-protein moderate-glycaemic-index (MPMGI) diet. A total of 208 offspring born to these women were followed-up from birth to 5 years of age. RESULTS: No differences were found on BMI z-scores at different ages; however, offspring born to women on the HPLGI diet exhibited 0.43 mmol/L higher glucose levels (p = 0.017) at birth compared with the MPMGI diet. At 3 years of age, HPLGI offspring had 0.09 mmol/L lower levels of HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.018) and 16% higher levels of triglycerides (p = 0.044). At 5 years of age, they had 0.25 mmol/L higher total cholesterol levels (p = 0.027) and 0.27 mmol/L higher LDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.003) compared with the MPMGI diet. CONCLUSION: An HPLGI diet during pregnancy may lead to adverse metabolic outcomes in the offspring, necessitating further investigation into long-term health implications.

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  • In Mogensen et al., minor transient alterations were noted: higher glucose and lower insulin levels in cord blood at birth, slightly higher adiposity at 18 months, and a trend toward a more atherogenic lipid profile in the HPLGI group at later follow-ups.

    “however, minor transient alterations were noted—higher glucose and lower insulin levels in cord blood at birth, slightly higher adiposity at 18 months, and a trend toward a more atherogenic lipid profile (reduced HDL, elevated triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL) in the HPLGI group at later follow-ups [181].”

    From Maternal Overnutrition and Fetal Programming: Long-Term Metabolic, Cognitive, and Epigenetic Consequences (2026) · cites this paper as [181]

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  • In Mogensen et al., no consistent differences emerged between HPLGI and MPMGI groups in anthropometric or metabolic parameters.

    “No consistent differences emerged between groups in anthropometric or metabolic parameters”

    From Maternal Overnutrition and Fetal Programming: Long-Term Metabolic, Cognitive, and Epigenetic Consequences (2026) · cites this paper as [181]

    The Results (Offspring markers of adiposity) report no significant BMI z-score differences, supporting the anthropometric part, although some skinfold measures differed. The Discussion and Results (Offspring blood biomarkers) report significant differences in glucose and lipids at particular ages, so the blanket characterization of metabolic parameters as showing no consistent differences obscures those findings. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Maternal BMI before pregnancy is a stronger determinant of offspring metabolic risk than gestational lifestyle changes alone.

    “Instead, both studies underscore the critical importance of preconception health optimization, emphasizing that maternal BMI before pregnancy is a stronger determinant of offspring metabolic risk than gestational lifestyle changes alone [180,181].”

    From Maternal Overnutrition and Fetal Programming: Long-Term Metabolic, Cognitive, and Epigenetic Consequences (2026) · cites this paper as [181]

    The Discussion says pre-pregnancy BMI appears to increase offspring overweight or obesity risk more than gestational weight gain, and notes that pregnancy dietary interventions may not affect obesity during the first five years. It does not establish that pre-pregnancy BMI is a stronger determinant of offspring metabolic risk broadly than gestational lifestyle changes; the trial also suggests its pregnancy diet intervention may affect offspring metabolic health. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • The lack of long-term improvement in offspring metabolic outcomes suggests that interventions limited to pregnancy may be insufficient to counteract the epigenetic and metabolic consequences of maternal obesity.

    “Overall, the lack of long-term improvement in offspring metabolic outcomes suggests that interventions limited to pregnancy may be insufficient to counteract the epigenetic and metabolic consequences of maternal obesity.”

    From Maternal Overnutrition and Fetal Programming: Long-Term Metabolic, Cognitive, and Epigenetic Consequences (2026) · cites this paper as [181]

    The Discussion (page not provided) reports no significant improvement in offspring BMI z-scores during the first five years and suggests that maternal health before conception or in early pregnancy may matter. This lends some support to the cautious inference about pregnancy-only interventions. However, the paper does not establish epigenetic consequences, and its conclusion says it is premature to infer long-term metabolic outcomes from the early findings. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Mogensen, C. S., Magkos, F., Zingenberg, H., & Geiker, N. R. W.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Herlev Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Mogensen, Christina Sonne
ORCID
Venue
Pediatric Obesity
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2024-12-02
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
e13191-e13191
ISSN
  • 2047-6302 (ISSN-L)
  • 2047-6310
DOI
10.1111/ijpo.13191
PMC
PMC11936710
OpenAlex
W4404907914
Cited by
8
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1
FWCI
5.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Pediatric Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF20SH0068118)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
high-protein diet, low glycemic index diet, maternal obesity, maternal overweight, prenatal nutrition, offspring metabolic health, childhood obesity, birth weight, body composition, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, glucose concentration
MeSH terms
Diet, High-Protein, Adult, Birth Weight, Blood Glucose, Body Composition, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Body Mass Index, Glycemic Index, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Overweight, Pediatric Obesity

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