Adequate folate intake is crucial during pregnancy, yet its relationship with GDM has shown inconsistent findings across studies. This cross-sectional analysis, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, examined dietary folate intake and its association with GDM in Chinese pregnant women during mid to late pregnancy.

The study evaluated 368 women between 24 and 30 weeks of gestation using baseline data from the Mother & Child Nutrition and Health Cohort Study. Dietary folate intake was categorized according to national recommendations, and the methyl-donor nutritional quality index (MNQI) was used to assess intake patterns of folate and related one-carbon metabolism nutrients.

A total of 39.9% of participants were diagnosed with GDM, and 57.5% had insufficient dietary folate intake. Although folate intake alone was not associated with GDM, the highest odds of GDM occurred in women who had combined insufficient vitamin B12 intake and folate intake in the highest quartile (P < 0.05).

These results highlight the importance of balanced folate and vitamin B12 intake rather than increased folate intake alone. Improving nutritional awareness and monitoring during mid to late pregnancy may support better metabolic outcomes and reduce GDM risk.