(P27-100-25) Peanut Food Consumption and Gestational Diabetes

Objectives: To examine the associations between maternal peanut food consumption during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM).

Methods: We analyzed data from a U.S. cohort of 1,397 mother-infant dyads in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. In late pregnancy, mothers reported the frequency and portion size of consuming peanut foods in the past month, including peanuts and peanut butter. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine associations between maternal peanut food consumption and the risk of GDM, adjusting for maternal socio-demographics, Healthy Eating Index, and pregnancy-related characteristics.

Results: On average, mothers consumed 0.21 cups/week of peanuts and 2.38 tablespoons/week of peanut butter during pregnancy. Older age, higher education, higher household income, higher Healthy Eating Index, and WIC non-recipient were associated with higher peanut food consumption. Mothers consuming peanuts at low (1-3 times per month; 5.0% with GDM) or moderate (1-2 times per week; 6.3%) frequency had a similar risk of GDM to mothers not consuming peanuts (6.6%). The confounder-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 0.74 (95% confidence interval or CI, 0.44-1.26) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.37-1.56), respectively. However, mothers consuming peanuts at high frequency had a significantly higher risk of GDM (18.6% vs. 6.6%; aOR, 3.00 [95% CI, 1.57-5.73]; p-value=0.001) compared to non-consumers. However, the risk of GDM was significantly lower among mothers consuming peanut butter at low frequency (4.3% vs 7.3%; aOR, 0.48 [0.25-0.93]; p-value=0.031) compared to non-consumers. The other two groups of peanut butter consumers did not have significantly different risk of GDM from non-consumers: 6.5% (aOR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.46-1.61]) for mothers consuming peanut butter at moderate frequency and 11.1% (aOR, 1.48 [95% CI, 0.81-2.70]) for mothers consuming peanut butter at high frequency.

Conclusions: The association between peanut food consumption and the risk of GDM seems to depend on the consumption frequency: null or protective association for low or moderate frequency, while high frequency may increase the risk.

Funding Sources: This study was supported by a research grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.