Study on Reducing Non-nutritive Sweeteners During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding to Improve Health Outcomes for Mothers and Babies

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how consuming non-nutritive sweeteners NNS during pregnancy and breastfeeding might affect infant obesity risk and heart health. The study focuses on pregnant women who regularly consume NNS and looks at how limiting NNS intake during pregnancy andor lactation influences the babys body fat, the mothers blood sugar during pregnancy, and the babys gut bacteria and metabolism. The findings could help guide recommendations for NNS use in pregnancy and breastfeeding to support better health for mothers and babies. Participants are assigned to one of three groups continue usual NNS consumption throughout pregnancy and lactation, restrict NNS only during lactation, or restrict NNS during both pregnancy and lactation. The NNS restriction involves education about NNS and obesity risks, handouts with foods and drinks to avoid, weekly reminders, and bi-weekly shipments of unsweetened beverages as alternatives. The control group receives education on home safety and babyproofing with weekly reminders. During the study, infants body fat is measured at 1 and 6 months old, while mothers undergo blood sugar tests at 28 weeks gestation and postpartum. Researchers also track infants birthweight, gestational age, and growth percentiles, along with mothers insulin sensitivity and dietary intake. The study begins early in pregnancy and follows participants through at least 6 months postpartum to monitor health outcomes and metabolic changes.

Effects of a Non-nutritive Sweetener Reduction Intervention in Pregnancy and Lactation on Maternal and Infant Outcomes