Objective: This study aimed to observe the changes in serum vaspin levels in pregnant women after glucose load during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and analyze the effect of blood glucose levels on serum vaspin secretion in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Methods: It included 30 patients with GDM and 30 age-matched pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT, control). The blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and serum vaspin levels were measured at 24-28 weeks of gestation. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were calculated.
Results: 1. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 1-h PG, 2-h PG, fasting insulin (FINS), HOMA-IR, baseline vaspin, 1-h vaspin, and 2-h vaspin were higher in the GDM group than in the NGT group. 2. The 1-h and 2-h vaspin levels were significantly higher than the baseline levels in the GDM group. The change in the vaspin level after 1 h in the GDM group during the OGTT was significantly greater than that in the NGT group. 3. The vaspin levels in the GDM group positively correlated with 1-h PG and TG, including the baseline vaspin (r = 0.494, p = .006; r = 0.385, p = .036), 1-h vaspin (r = 0.577, p = .001; r = 0.466, p = .010), and 2-h vaspin (r = 0.557, p = .001; r = 0.488, p = .006).
Conclusion: Vaspin might be regulated by the hyperglycemia level and involved in the pathogenesis of GDM and lipid metabolism.
Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus; insulin resistance index; oral glucose tolerance test; visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin.