title: Association between markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid profiles, and insulin resistance in pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased levels of pro-inflammatory factors, markers of oxidative stress and lipid profiles are known to be associated with several complications. The aim of this study was to determine the association of markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid profiles with insulin resistance in pregnant women in Kashan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin, 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydroguanine (8-oxo-G), total cholesterol, triglyceride, High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured among 89 primigravida singleton pregnant women aged 18-30 years at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regressions were used to assess their relationships with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that among biochemical indicators of pregnant women, serum hs-CRP and total cholesterol levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR (β = 0.05, P = 0.006 for hs-CRP and β = 0.006, P = 0.006 for total cholesterol). These associations remained significant even after mutual effect of other biochemical indicators were controlled (β = 0.04, P = 0.01 for hs-CRP and β = 0.007, P = 0.02 for total cholesterol). Further adjustment for body mass index made the association of hs-CRP and HOMA-IR disappeared; however, the relationship for total cholesterol remained statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that serum total cholesterol is independently correlated with HOMA-IR score. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shidfar
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabassi
authors.forename: Mohamadesmaeil
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahaboddin
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaillzadeh
keywords: Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Oxidative Stress; Pregnancy