title: Maternal and fetal amino acid concentrations in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to compare amino acid concentrations in normal pregnancies and pregnancies with gestational diabetes (GDM), a condition associated with altered fetal growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal and fetal amino acids were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatograph at the time of delivery in 16 normal and 17 GDM pregnancies. Fetal weights were not different, but placental weights were significantly higher and fetal/placental weight ratios were significantly lower in GDM compared with normal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ornithine was significantly increased in GDM mothers. In umbilical vein and artery of GDM significant increases were observed for valine, methionine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, glutamate, proline, and alanine, whereas glutamine was significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placental amino acid exchange is altered in GDM pregnancies. Moreover, the changes observed for glutamine and glutamate in the umbilical samples suggest that in GDM the fetal hepatic production of glutamate is increased, likely as a consequence of the endocrine changes in the fetal compartment.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milano, Milano, Italy. irene.cetin@unimi.it
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Maria S Nobile
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Santis
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taricco
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Radaelli
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ronzoni
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pardi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids