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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359751
Research Project: Impact of Early Dietary Factors on Child Development and Health

Location: Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center

Title: The association of maternal protein intake during pregnancy in humans with maternal and offspring insulin sensitivity measures

Author
item ALLMAN, BRITTANY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item ANDRES, ALINE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BORSHEIM, ELISABET - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Current Developments in Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2019
Publication Date: 4/20/2019
Citation: Allman, B.R., Andres, A., Borsheim, E. 2019. The association of maternal protein intake during pregnancy in humans with maternal and offspring insulin sensitivity measures. Current Developments in Nutrition. 3(6). https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz055.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz055

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Adequate protein intake during pregnancy is particularly important for optimal pregnancy outcomes due to the considerable amounts of growth during this time. Although high protein diets have gained popularity, some recent studies have reported potential negative implications on glucose metabolism and insulin regulation. Thus, it is imperative to study the effects of varying levels of protein intake during pregnancy, a period in which insulin sensitivity is naturally compromised. The intrauterine environment, which impacts metabolism of the mother and the growing fetus, is influenced by dietary protein intake. Although protein restriction as a result of famine during human pregnancy has been shown to negatively affect offspring insulin sensitivity measures, there is not enough evidence in the current literature to support any negative effects of low (<12.5% of total energy intake from protein) or high (>23.3% of total energy intake from protein) habitual protein intake during pregnancy on maternal or offspring insulin sensitivity measures. The purpose of this review is to describe current knowledge about the effects of protein intake during human pregnancy on maternal and offspring insulin sensitivity measures and to get a better understanding of the knowledge gaps that still exist, so that further research can build a more substantial body of evidence for improved dietary protein recommendations during pregnancy.