Probiotics May Reduce Risk of Diabetes During Pregnancy

TURKU, FinlandAccording to Finnish researchers, probiotic strains Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG® (from Chr. Hansen) may help reduced the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, lower blood glucose and promote child health in pregnant women (Br J  Nut. 2010;103(12):1792-99). A total of 256 women were randomized at their first trimester of pregnancy into a control and a dietary intervention group. The intervention group received intensive dietary counseling provided by a nutritionist and were further randomized, double blind to receive probiotics (L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12; diet/probiotics) or placebo (diet/placebo).

After 24 months of followup, probiotic intervention reduced the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)13 percent (diet/probiotics) versus 36 percent (diet/placebo) and 34 percent (control). The safety of this approach was attested by normal duration of pregnancies with no adverse events in mothers or children. No significant differences in prenatal or postnatal growth rates among the study groups were detected. Additionally, distinctive effects of the two interventions were detected; probiotic intervention reduced the risk of GDM and dietary intervention diminished the risk of larger birth size. The results show probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counseling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. Researchers noted, In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable.