The protective association of dairy intake and the adverse impact of iron on gestational diabetes risk.

Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a pregnancy-related glucose intolerance with significant implications for maternal and fetal health. Calcium is essential for insulin secretion and metabolism, while iron intake may also impact GDM. This case-control study was conducted to investigate the relationship between calcium and iron intake with the risk of GDM. Methods: GDM was defined as Fasting Blood Sugar>92mg/dL or 75g Oral-Glucose-Tolerance-Test 120-minutes>153mg/dL. A 168-Item food-frequency-questionnaire was used to collect dietary calcium and iron intake from 24-40 weeks of gestation. The impact of total iron, red, processed/unprocessed meat consumption, calcium, and dairy intake on GDM were investigated. Results: A total of 229 GDM and 205 non-GDM women (18-45 years) participated. GDM group had higher pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain, and pre-pregnancy BMI. Across all models, GDM risk significantly increased in the third and fourth quartiles of iron intake. The fourth quartile had an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.68 (CI 95%, 4.89-1.56; P<0.001) compared to the reference. Heme-iron consumption in the fourth quartiles increased GDM risk. In the second calcium intake model, ORs for the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 0.51 (CI 95%, 0.91-0.25), 0.43 (CI 95%, 0.77-0.24), and 0.35 (CI 95%, 0.63-0.19), respectively (P<0.001 all), reducing GDM risk by 50-65% compared to the first quartile. Dairy consumption in all quartiles of the first and second models was associated with lower GDM risk. Conclusions: Consumption of heme-iron through red and processed meat associated with an increased chance of developing GDM. Dairy intake reduces the chances of developing GDM in pregnant women.

The Effect of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Supplementation on Serum Homocysteine, Anemia Status and Quality of Life of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Plasma homocysteine level and megaloblastic anemia status are two factors that can affect the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We conducted this study to determine the effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on serum homocysteine, megaloblastic anemia status and quality of life of patients with MS. A total of 50 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) included in this study which divided into 2 groups. The vitamin group received 5 mg folic acid tablet daily and 3 doses of vitamin B12 (1,000 mcg) injection and the other group received placebo and normal saline injection (same doses). The quality of life was measured by using Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQOL-54). Fully automated fluorescence polarization immunoassay was used to measure serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate. Complete blood count blood test was conducted to determine the anemia status. The mean homocysteine level reduced by 2.49 ± 0.39 µmol/L (p = 0.001), hemoglobin increased from 11.24 ± 1.54 to 13.12 ± 1.05 g/dL (p = 0.001), and mean corpuscular volume decreased from 95.50 ± 6.65 to 89.64 ± 4.24 in the vitamin group (p = 0.001). There was a significant improvement in the mental field of life quality in the placebo group (37.46 ± 19.01 to 50.98 ± 21.64; p = 0.001), whereas both physical and mental fields of quality of life were improved significantly in the vitamin group (40.38 ± 15.07 to 59.21 ± 12.32 and 29.58 ± 15.99 to 51.68 ± 18.22, respectively; p = 0.001). Serum homocysteine level decrease and anemia status improvement with vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation reveal the potential role of these two vitamins in improving the life quality of MS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT2015100313678N7.