title: Biological and biochemical characteristics of a Mediterranean population with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: The interplay of various nutrients provided to the developing foetus determines the growth potential of the conceptus. This study assessed the inter-relationship between these nutrients in a Mediterranean population including 1062 pregnant, previously non-diabetic women. These underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and were accordingly classified into gestational hyperglycaemic and normoglycaemic groups. Fasting insulin, HbA1c, and lipid profiles were further assessed, and the anthropomorphic characteristics of the mother and child at birth were measured. Lipid profiles were compared between the two groups and related to the biological characteristics of the mother and child at birth. Gestational hyperglycaemia was significantly associated with elevated triglycerides (P<0.0001) and decreased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P=0.02). There were no significant changes in total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Maternal BMI correlated positively with the various glycaemic indices (P<0.0001) and triglycerides (P<0.0001), but inversely with cholesterol (P<0.0001), HDL-C (P<0.0001) and LDL-C (P<0.0001). The infant birth weight correlated positively with maternal body weight (P<0.0001), LDL-C (P<0.0001) and the glycaemic indices (P<0.0001), but negatively with cholesterol (P<0.0001), triglycerides (P<0.0001), HDL-C (P<0.0001) and FBG (P<0.0001). This study confirms that the maternal body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, and LDL-C levels positively contribute towards foetal growth, whereas a negative correlation was noted with cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savona-Ventura
authors.forename: Josanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craus
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotic
authors.forename: Nebojsa M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lalic
authors.forename: Claude Ben
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Adele Rovira
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Loscos
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.forename: Giona
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human