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Evidence summaries

Probiotics for Preventing Gestational Diabetes

Probiotics may not reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus compared with placebo or usual care. However, it may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. Level of evidence: "C"

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by heterogeneity and imprecise results.

Summary

A systematic review and meta-analysis cd009951 included two randomised controlled trials (six publications) and one cohort study assessing the effects of probiotics on maternal outcomes. In Finland, 256 women were randomised at their first trimester of pregnancy into three groups: dietary counselling provided by a nutritionist and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12; dietary counselling + probiotics; n= 85), dietary counselling provided by a nutritionist and placebo (dietary counselling + placebo; n=86), and a control group (control+placebo; n=85). Probiotic intervention reduced the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); 13 %, 36% and 34% in the dietary counselling + probiotics, dietary counselling + placebo and control+placebo groups, respectively. The risk of GDM was significantly reduced in the dietary counselling +probiotics group vs control+placebo group (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.62), but there was no significant difference between dietary counselling +placebo group vs control+placebo group (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.12). There was no significant difference in mean birth weight (g) among the three groups: 3467 (95% CI 3370 - 3564), 3579 (3469 - 3688) and 3611 (3494 - 3727) in the dietary counselling +probiotics, dietary counselling+placebo and control+placebo groups, respectively. The intervention had also significant effects on maternal blood glucose (base-line adjusted means 4.45, 4.60 and 4.56 mmol/l in dietary counselling +probiotics, dietary counselling +placebo and control+placebo groups respectively, P=0.025) and insulin concentration (adjusted means 7.55, 9.32 and 9.27 respectively, P=0.032). There were no differences in rates of preterm or post-term deliveries, caesarean sections, or Apgar scores. There were no perinatal deaths or serious adverse effects. Neither the other RCT nor the cohort study addressed GDM or glucose metabolism.

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 7 trials with a total of 1647 participants. Probiotics did not decrease the risk of GDM compared to placebo (mean RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.20; 6 studies, n=1440), but increased the risk of pre-eclampsia (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.29; 4 studies, n=955 women) and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.01, 4 studies, n=955). There was no clear difference in caesarean section, maternal weight gain, large-for-gestational age infants, perinatal morbidity, or mortality.

Clinical comments

4

Note

Date of latest search: 2021-05-27

    References

    • Davidson SJ, Barrett HL, Price SA et al. Probiotics for preventing gestational diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;4():CD009951. [PubMed]
    • Lindsay KL, Walsh CA, Brennan L et al. Probiotics in pregnancy and maternal outcomes: a systematic review. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2013;26(8):772-8. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords