title: Thiamine supplementation to prevent induction of low birth weight by conventional therapy for gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Conventional treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus increases the proportion of infants born with a low birth weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus in later life. Thiamine supplementation during pregnancy may be shown to be a safe preventive measure. During pregnancy, approximately 50% of the women develop a biochemical thiamine deficiency, whereas the thiamine status falls, but remains within normal limits, in most other women. Thiamine is essential for glucose oxidation, insulin production by pancreatic beta-cells and cell growth. It is therefore likely that thiamine supplementation in pregnant women not only improves their glucose tolerance but also stimulates the intra-uterine growth, thereby preventing a low birth weight to ensue from conventional therapy which only improves glucose tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. s.j.i.bakker@int.azg.nl
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: ter Maaten
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Gans
mesh_terms: D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D013831:Thiamine