title: Zinc-α2-glycoprotein is unrelated to gestational diabetes: anthropometric and metabolic determinants in pregnant women and their offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein (ZAG) is an adipokine with lipolytic action and is positively associated with adiponectin in adipose tissue. We hypothesize that ZAG may be related with hydrocarbonate metabolism disturbances observed in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze serum ZAG concentration and its relationship with carbohydrate metabolism in pregnant women and its influence on fetal growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  207 pregnant women (130 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 77 with GDM) recruited in the early third trimester and their offspring were studied. Cord blood was obtained at delivery and neonatal anthropometry was assessed in the first 48 hours. ZAG was determined in maternal serum and cord blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ZAG concentration was lower in cord blood than in maternal serum, but similar concentration was observed in NGT and GDM pregnant women. Also similar levels were found between offspring of NGT and GDM women. In the bivariate analysis, maternal ZAG (mZAG) was positively correlated with adiponectin and HDL cholesterol, and negatively correlated with insulin and triglyceride concentrations, and HOMA index. On the other hand, cord blood ZAG (cbZAG) was positively correlated with fat-free mass, birth weight and gestational age at delivery. After adjusting for confounding variables, gestational age at delivery and HDL cholesterol emerged as the sole determinants of cord blood ZAG and maternal ZAG concentrations, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  mZAG was not associated with glucose metabolism during pregnancy. ZAG concentration was lower in cord blood compared with maternal serum. cbZAG was independently correlated with gestational age at delivery, suggesting a role during the accelerated fetal growth during latter pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain. snafco@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Näf
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Escote
authors.forename: Rosa Elena
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Yañez
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Simón
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Megia
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vendrell
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007328:Insulin; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D000090203:Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein; D015032:Zinc