Dietary Micronutrients and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes: Evidence from a Tertiary Care Setting in India

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a significant health concern in India, affecting nearly 22.4% of pregnant women. While macronutrient roles are well explored, the impact of micronutrients on GDM risk, particularly with the Indian ethnic phenotype, requires exploration Objectives: To compare the micronutrient intake between GDM and non-GDM pregnancies and evaluate the association between specific dietary micronutrients and GDM risk Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 South Indian pregnant women. Dietary history was taken using 24-hour recalls on two occasions and analysed via the Indian Food Composition Table (IFCT). GDM was diagnosed using International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. Logistic regression identified independent predictors of GDM. Results: Women with GDM had significantly lower daily intakes of iron (P =0.001), magnesium=0.038), zinc (P=0.038), riboflavin (P=0.047), niacin (p=0.003)and Vitamin E (P=0.001) compared to the non-GDM group. Multivariate analysis showed that maternal age, BMI, and PCOS are significant clinical risks; higher intakes of iron (AOR=0.89), zinc (AOR=0.84), and vitamin B3 (AOR=0.91) act as independent protective factors against GDM. Notably, over 85% of all participants failed to meet the RDA for iron and calcium. Conclusion: Reduced intake of key micronutrients—specifically iron, zinc, and B vitamins—is associated with an increased risk of GDM. Findings emphasise the need for early nutritional assessment and micronutrient optimisation alongside conventional clinical management in antenatal care