Influence of Chrono-nutrition Factors and Temporal Dietary Patterns on Glycemic Parameters During Pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), characterized by hyperglycemia first diagnosed during pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk of full-fledged type 2 diabetes (T2D) in mothers and adverse metabolic health in their offspring. In Taiwan, the prevalence of GDM has risen from 7.6% in 2004 to 13.4% in 2015, affecting approximately 1 in 7 pregnancies. Even at levels below the diagnostic threshold for GDM, studies such as the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HAPO) have shown a clear graded relationship between higher maternal glycemia and an elevated risk of adverse birth outcomes and childhood insulin resistance.

Metabolic health and glycemic profile of mothers are in turn heavily influenced by diet and nutrition. While dietary content is crucial, multiple lines of evidence now suggests that not only what one eats but also when one eats impacts health. The master circadian clock in the human brain orchestrates circadian rhythms in response to the light-dark cycle. However, it is now recognized that most organs possess peripheral circadian clocks that are strongly influenced by behavioral rhythms, including feeding/fasting, activity/rest, and wake/sleep cycles. Chrono-nutrition is an emerging field of study concerning the interplay between the endogenous circadian rhythm, dietary intake, metabolism, and health. There are various dimensions of chrono-nutrition including meal timing, frequency, and regularity, and daily fasting duration. These individual dimensions have been linked to health outcomes, but few studies have examined the intricate interconnectedness across these different dimensions. Another research gap is that there is a dearth of studies investigating chrono-nutrition factors in pregnant populations.

Thus, to address these research gaps, the investigators aim to establish a new cohort study to investigate the relationship between chrono-nutrition factors during pregnancy and maternal GDM, glycemic parameters, and gestational weight gain.