Obstetrical outcomes in pregnant patients following a gluten‐free diet: A prospective cohort study

Objective Concerns have been raised about the nutritional adequacy of a gluten‐free (GF) diet during pregnancy, specifically in the absence of celiac disease, and its impact on fetal development. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between a GF diet during pregnancy and obstetrical outcomes, with further sensitivity analyses exploring those without celiac disease. Methods Using data from the ongoing P3 Cohort study, self‐reported data were obtained on participant demographics, GF diet, celiac disease, and obstetrical outcomes. Fisher exact, χ 2 , Mann–Whitney U and two‐sample t ‐tests, and regression models were used to examine differences in patient characteristics and outcomes between those who did and did not follow a GF diet in pregnancy. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine outcomes among those without celiac disease. Results Of the 2359 participants included, 108 (4.6%) reported following a GF diet in pregnancy. The majority of these individuals ( n = 68, 63.0%) were non‐celiac. Participants in the GF group were older, more likely to identify as white, and more likely to take prenatal vitamin B supplements. There were no significant differences in obstetrical outcomes between the GF and non‐GF participants. Sensitivity analyses excluding patients with celiac disease demonstrated similar results, with no difference in obstetrical outcomes observed. Conclusion Following a GF diet in pregnancy, even in individuals without celiac disease, was not associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes. These results provide some reassurance on the safety of a GF diet in pregnancy but require validation in larger studies.