Probiotics and Dietary Counseling Improve Blood Glucose Control in Pregnant Women

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Probiotics and Dietary Counseling Improve Blood Glucose Control in

Pregnant Women

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Probiotics and dietary counselling contribute to glucose

regulation during and after pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial, "

Laitinen K, Poussa T, et al, Br J Nutr, 2008 Nov 19: 1-9 [Epub ahead of

print]. (Address: Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry,

University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland. E-mail: Dr. Kirsi Laitinen,

E-mail: kirsi.laitinen@... ).

Summary: In a randomized study involving 256 normoglycemic women in the

first trimester of pregnancy, supplementation with probiotics in

addition to dietary counseling was found to improve blood glucose

control during and after pregnancy. Subjects were first randomized to

either receive nutritional counseling in order to modify dietary intake

or to not receive such counseling (controls). The group that received

counseling was further randomized, in a double-blind manner, to either

receive probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and

Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12) or to receive a placebo. Results found that

subjects who received both the counseling and the probiotic

supplementation had the lowest blood glucose concentrations during

pregnancy and in the 12 months post-partum. A reduced risk of elevated

glucose concentration was found in the subjects who received both

counseling plus probiotics (OR=0.31). Subjects who received counseling

plus p robiotics were found to have the lowest insulin concentration,

the lowest HOMA, and the highest quantitative insulin sensitivity check

index (adjusted means=0.37) during the last trimester of pregnancy, with

the effects lasting over the 12 months post-partum. Considering the fact

that " Balanced glucose metabolism ensures optimal fetal growth with

long-term health implications conferred on both mother and child, " these

results are promising, suggesting that dietary counseling and probiotic

supplementation may help to regulate glucose metabolism in pregnant

women during pregnancy and 1 year post-partum.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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