Abstract: Objective To evaluate the relationship between dietary habits and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in
Cantonese women. Methods This a cross-sectional study included 571 pregnant women who underwent a 75-g oral glucose
challenge test at the 24th to 28th gestational week. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used by three dieticians to
evaluate all the subjects’ dietary habits. Results 13% of the investigated subjects were identified to have GDM (GDM+ ). No
significant differences were found between the GDM+ and GDM- groups in the intake of energy, macronutrients, fibers, or
cholesterol. The amount of low- and middle-GI fruits consumed daily in the two groups was not statistically different, but the
GDM+ subjects reported a significantly greater amount of high-GI fruit intake as well as energy-dense foods than the GDMsubjects
(P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that increased consumption of energy-dense snack foods and
high glycemic-index fruits were strongly associated with the risk of GDM. Conclusion Local dietary composition (high-GI
fruit and energy-dense foods) is closely related to the risk of GDM in Cantonese women, for whom intensive health education
of dietary behavior is needed to control GDM.