Carbohydrates and Health

A7.4 Higher birth weight is associated in later life with a higher body mass index
and an increased risk of certain cancers, notably breast cancer (particularly in
premenopausal women) and child leukaemia (SACN, 2011). Lower birth weight
is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and a J- or U-shaped
relationship has been described between infant birth weight and blood pressure
(Curhan et al., 1996; Davies et al., 2006; Gamborg et al., 2007) and type 2 diabetes
mellitus risk (Harder et al., 2007) in later life.
A7.5 Ten cohort studies were identified that presented evidence on dietary carbohydrate
intake during pregnancy and infant birth weight (Haste et al., 1991; Lenders et al.,
1994; Godfrey et al., 1996; Lenders et al., 1997; Mathews et al., 1999; Langley-Evans
& Langley-Evans, 2003; Moore et al., 2004; Lagiou et al., 2004; Scholl et al., 2004;
Watson & McDonald, 2010).
A7.6 Three studies were conducted in England only (Haste et al., 1991; Mathews et al.,
1999; Langley-Evans & Langley-Evans, 2003), one study in the UK (Godfrey et al.,
1996), four in the USA (Lenders et al., 1994; Lenders et al., 1997; Lagiou et al., 2004;
Scholl et al., 2004), one in Australia (Moore et al., 2004) and one in New Zealand
(Watson & McDonald, 2010).
A7.7 Three cohort studies were conducted in low-income pregnant women; two cohort
studies included only adolescents (Lenders et al., 1994; Lenders et al., 1997) and the
other included adolescents and adult women (Scholl et al., 2004).
Total carbohydrate
A7.8 Seven cohort studies were identified that presented evidence on maternal total
carbohydrate intake, either as grams or percentage energy, and infant birth weight
(Haste et al., 1991; Godfrey et al., 1996; Mathews et al., 1999; Langley-Evans &
Langley-Evans, 2003; Lagiou et al., 2004; Moore et al., 2004; Watson & McDonald,
2010).
A7.9 Three of these studies were conducted in England. One assessed maternal
carbohydrate intake (g/day) at 28 and 36 weeks gestation in non-smokers
(n=97) and smokers (n=72) (Haste et al., 1991). The amount of total carbohydrate
consumed at either dietary assessment during pregnancy was not associated
with the infant birth weight in either smokers or non-smokers. In another study,
693 women had their dietary intake assessed in early pregnancy (recorded at the
booking appointment) and the 28 th week of gestation (Mathews et al., 1999). The
amount of total carbohydrate consumed (g/day) either early or later in pregnancy
was not associated with infant birth weight (p=0.90). The third cohort indicated no
association between infant birth weight and maternal intakes of total carbohydrate
(g/day or % energy) (Langley-Evans & Langley-Evans, 2003).
A7.10 A UK cohort study assessed maternal carbohydrate intake (g/day) in early and late
pregnancy in 538 women in relation to infant birth weight (Godfrey et al., 1996).
Nutrient intakes were log transformed where appropriate. Increased carbohydrate
intake in early pregnancy was associated with a lower birth weight (-143 g, 95%
CI -28 g, -258 g; P=0.01 per log gram increase in carbohydrate intake). However,
there was no significant association between the mothers’ carbohydrate intake in
late pregnancy and infant birth weight.
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