Dietary regulation for 'gestational diabetes'.

BACKGROUND: Impaired glucose metabolism in pregnancy may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Primary dietary therapy is used in the management of diabetes, including gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of primary dietary therapy in women identified as having gestational diabetes on fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.

SEARCH STRATEGY: I searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of primary dietary therapy compared with no specific treatment in pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance test results.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trial quality was assessed.

MAIN RESULTS: Four studies involving 612 women were included. Trials were small and of variable quality. No differences were detected between primary dietary therapy and no primary dietary therapy for birthweight greater than 4000 grams (odds ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 1.35) or caesarean deliveries (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.44).

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of primary dietary therapy for women who show impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy.