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Emotion-Diet Interactions in Pregnancy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Emotional Stress
Stress, Psychological
Glucose Intolerance During Pregnancy
Insulin Sensitivity/Resistance
Pregnancy Related
Postprandial Hyperglycemia
Registration Number
NCT04430439
Lead Sponsor
University of California, Irvine
Brief Summary

This study will investigate how maternal emotional state following a controlled stress exposure in pregnancy influences blood glucose and insulin levels after eating a standardized meal, and whether the effects of emotional state on blood glucose and insulin is different after eating a healthy meal (low GI) compared to a less healthy meal (high GI).

Detailed Description

Maternal glucose-insulin homeostasis in pregnancy represents one of the most important physiological processes for maternal and child health outcomes. Although maternal diet is a key regulator of this process, its effects vary widely across individuals. Maternal stress could represent a moderator of considerable importance in this regard, yet little is known about the effects of stress on glycemic control in pregnancy and whether the effects of stress may vary as a function of diet quality. This project will investigate the effects of acute psychosocial stress exposure on the postprandial metabolic response to a meal of varying glycemic index (GI) among women with overweight/obesity in mid-pregnancy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
113
Inclusion Criteria
  • English and/or Spanish speaking
  • 18-22 week's gestation
  • Pre-pregnancy BMI 25.0-39.9 kg/m2
  • Singleton, intrauterine pregnancy
  • Non-smoker
  • Non-diabetic and normal result on a random peripheral blood glucose test at the screening visit (<200 mg/dl)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Non-fluency in English or Spanish
  • BMI <25.0 or ≥40.0 kg/m2
  • >22 week's gestation
  • multiple pregnancy
  • current smoker
  • present/prior obstetric conditions (preeclampsia, infections, placental abnormalities, uterine anomalies, congenital malformations, fetal chromosomal abnormalities)
  • presence of any conditions that may dysregulate neuroendocrine, metabolic or cardiovascular function, such as diabetes, hepatic, renal, or autoimmune disorders
  • current psychiatric disorders or undergoing treatment/taking psychiatric medications
  • use of systemic/frequent corticosteroids or thyroid, lipid-lowering or anti-diabetic medications
  • gestational diabetes mellitus or raised glucose result detected on the screening visit
  • unwilling to eat the standard breakfast meal at each laboratory visit

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Postprandial glycemic response2 weeks

Intra-individual glycemic response (area-under-the-curve of glucose) to the standardized meal following exposure to either the psychosocial stress (TSST) or non-stress (control) task

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Postprandial lipid response2 weeks

Intra-individual lipid response (area-under-the-curve of triglycerides and free fatty acids) to the standardized meal following exposure to either the psychosocial stress (TSST) or non-stress (control) task

Postprandial inflammatory response2 weeks

Intra-individual lipid response (area-under-the-curve of inflammatory cytokines) to the standardized meal following exposure to either the psychosocial stress (TSST) or non-stress (control) task

Postprandial metabolic response to stress by meal type3 hours

Inter-individual difference in the glycemic/lipid/inflammatory AUC in response to the TSST between participants consuming the low GI compared to the high GI meal type

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of California, Irvine

🇺🇸

Irvine, California, United States

UCI Medical Center, University of California, Irvine

🇺🇸

Orange, California, United States

University of California, Irvine
🇺🇸Irvine, California, United States

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