Background Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the consumption of food additives globally. However, the functional implications and potential outcomes of food additive exposure on maternal and child health are not yet fully understood. There is an urgent need to further evaluate these relationships within longitudinal mother-infant cohorts. This study aimed to investigate the impact of food additives and GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus), and birth weight.

Methods This is a prospective cohort study. The research has been enrolling 2,171 pregnant women, which has resulted in the birth of 1,890 infants. We provide the validated FFQ-based food additive consumption questionnaires. The study then observed the occurrence of two common perinatal diseases, GDM and large for gestational age (LGA), after the intake of food additives.

Results It was clear that the food additive P80 was associated with an increased risk of LGA (OR: 1.00 [95% CI: 1.00–1.01], FDR = 0.153); the emulsifier CRN was significantly correlated with increased risks of GDM (OR: 1.01 [95% CI: 1.00–1.01], FDR = 0.146) and LGA (OR: 1.01 [95% CI: 1.00–1.01], FDR = 0.153). The results showed that emulsifiers (CRN, P80, and total emulsifiers) were the main food additives that increased the risk of LGA in the overall study population. (IDDF2024-ABS-0301 Figure 1. Food additive intake and the risk of gestational diabetes and birth weight)

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Abstract IDDF2024-ABS-0301 Figure 1

Food additive intake and the risk of gestational diabetes and birth weight

Conclusions We found that two major types of food additives, emulsifiers and sweeteners, significantly contribute to the occurrence of maternal GDM and offspring LGA, especially among women who are overweight or obese before pregnancy.