title: Elevated serum squalene and cholesterol synthesis markers in pregnant obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: We examined serum cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers and their association with neonatal birth weight in obese pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Pregnant women at risk for GDM (BMI >30 kg/m²) were enrolled from maternity clinics in Finland. GDM was determined from the results of an oral glucose tolerance test. Serum samples were collected at six time-points, one in each trimester of pregnancy, and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. Analysis of serum squalene and noncholesterol sterols by gas-liquid chromatography revealed that in subjects with GDM (n = 22), the serum Δ8-cholestenol concentration and lathosterol/sitosterol ratio were higher (P < 0.05) than in the controls (n = 30) in the first trimester, reflecting increased cholesterol synthesis. Also, subjects with GDM had an increased ratio of squalene to cholesterol (100 × μmol/mmol of cholesterol) in the second (11.5 ± 0.5 vs. 9.1 ± 0.5, P < 0.01) and third (12.1 ± 0.8 vs. 10.0 ± 0.7, P < 0.05) trimester. In GDM, the second trimester maternal serum squalene concentration correlated with neonatal birth weight (r = 0.70, P < 0.001). In conclusion, in obesity, GDM associated with elevated serum markers of cholesterol synthesis. Correlation of maternal serum squalene with neonatal birth weight suggests a potential contribution of maternal cholesterol synthesis to newborn weight in GDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rönö
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Saila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koivusalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, South-Karelia Central Hospital, Lappeenranta, Finland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stach-Lempinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maritta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pöyhönen-Alho
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gylling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000097:blood; D013185:Squalene / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D013185:Squalene; C001521:lathosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; C056855:zymostenol
keywords: cholestanol; cholesterol metabolism• fetal weight; glucose; insulin; lipoprotein; obesity; phospholipid