Inositol supplementation for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance that occurs for the first time or is first detected during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM depends on screening criteria, which are also different in Western countries, but the related complications are well known and affect the mother's and infant's long-term health. Pregnancy is certainly a stress test for the mother and a positive diagnosis of GDM reveals some inadequacy in serum glucose control with subsequent consequences for the future child and the mother. Therefore, it is necessary to make an early diagnosis in pregnancy to target adequate dietary or therapeutic interventions. In this context, promising results encourage the use of inositol in GDM prevention and treatment. This has special value considering that metformin did not prevent GDM in women at risk. However, although supplementation with inositol showed positive effects on GDM, confirmatory studies are still necessary to elucidate long-term effects.