Biological and biochemical characteristics of a Mediterranean population with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The interplay of various nutrients provided to the developing foetus determines the growth potential of the conceptus. This study assessed the inter-relationship between these nutrients in a Mediterranean population including 1062 pregnant, previously non-diabetic women. These underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and were accordingly classified into gestational hyperglycaemic and normoglycaemic groups. Fasting insulin, HbA1c, and lipid profiles were further assessed, and the anthropomorphic characteristics of the mother and child at birth were measured. Lipid profiles were compared between the two groups and related to the biological characteristics of the mother and child at birth. Gestational hyperglycaemia was significantly associated with elevated triglycerides (P<0.0001) and decreased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P=0.02). There were no significant changes in total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Maternal BMI correlated positively with the various glycaemic indices (P<0.0001) and triglycerides (P<0.0001), but inversely with cholesterol (P<0.0001), HDL-C (P<0.0001) and LDL-C (P<0.0001). The infant birth weight correlated positively with maternal body weight (P<0.0001), LDL-C (P<0.0001) and the glycaemic indices (P<0.0001), but negatively with cholesterol (P<0.0001), triglycerides (P<0.0001), HDL-C (P<0.0001) and FBG (P<0.0001). This study confirms that the maternal body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, and LDL-C levels positively contribute towards foetal growth, whereas a negative correlation was noted with cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C.

Impact of maternal income on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in primiparous women

“…It is generally accepted that both an increase in maternal age and BMI are associated with an elevated risk of developing GDM . Our findings are in line with the literature.…”

Obesity and gestational diabetes in pregnancy: an evolving epidemic

“…While documenting biologic and biochemical characteristics of a Mediterranean population with GDM, Savona-Ventura et al, found increased maternal age, increased pre-pregnancy weight, and increased weight gain in pregnancy were seen in the GDM group [7]. The implication that pre-pregnancy weight loss could reduce the incidence of GDM is supported by this study.…”

Gestational dyslipidaemia and adverse birthweight outcomes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of the 13,705 unique records identified by the searches, 46 publications reporting from 42 studies were included in the review (Fig. ).…”

“…The number of pregnancies ranged from 38 to 5,535. On the basis of the World Bank Income Classification of countries , 25 out of 42 studies were from high‐income economies , 16 from upper‐middle‐income economies and 1 from middle‐income economies . Forty studies were prospective cohorts , three were retrospective cohorts and three were secondary analyses of cohorts in RCTs .…”

“…Forty‐five publications (excluding the abstract ) were assessed for methodological quality. Ten, 21 and 14 studies were assessed as methodologically high , moderate and low quality , respectively (Appendix S6). Three (7%) of 45 included studies had low risk for study selection while 40 (93%) had medium risk.…”