RESUMO
Objective:To investigate the effects of iron metabolism and oxidative stress level on blood glucose control during pregnancy in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:A total of 139 pregnant women who received prenatal examination between January 2020 and June 2021 in Wenzhou Central Hospital were included in this study. They were divided into GDM group ( n = 68) and control group ( n = 71) according to oral glucose tolerance test results at 24-48 weeks of gestation. Clinical data were collected. Iron metabolism, oxidative stress and blood glucose levels were measured. The relationships between iron metabolism and oxidative stress levels and blood glucose control in GDM were analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in age between the GDM and control groups ( P > 0.05). Body mass index, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), malondialdehyde (MDA), ferritin (SF), serum iron, transferrin (TRF) and insulin resistance index (IRI) in the GDM group were (24.11 ± 3.05) kg/m 2, (4.92 ± 0.67) mmol/L, (10.56 ± 2.21) pmol/mL, (6.15 ± 0.62)%, (20.50 ± 1.72) μg/L, (20.34 ± 2.92) μmol/L, (70.77 ± 7.01) μg/L, (30.18 ± 4.25) μmol/L, (3.93 ± 0.69) g/L and (2.50 ± 1.03), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(21.41 ± 2.86) kg/m 2, (4.69 ± 0.62) mmol/L, (5.76 ± 2.09) pmol/mL, (5.37 ± 0.58)%, (15.43 ± 1.55) μg/L, (12.93 ± 2.17) μmol/L, (42.53 ± 8.86) μg/L, (18.81 ± 3.85) μmol/L, (2.89 ± 0.53) g/L and (1.74 ± 0.89)] ( t = 5.39, 2.10, 13.16, 7.66, 18.27, 17.03, 20.78, 16.54, 9.99, 4.66, all P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and insulin sensitivity index in the GDM group were (21.49 ± 3.52) U/L, (10.87 ± 1.34) kU/L and (3.28 ± 0.46), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(26.28 ± 3.95) U/L, (13.28 ± 1.52) kU/L, (3.86 ± 0.53), t = 7.54, 9.90, 6.88, all P < 0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SOD, TAOC, NF-κB, MDA, SF and TRF were independent influential factors of GDM occurrence [ OR (95% CI) = 1.57 (1.09-2.26), 3.15 (1.71-5.80), 2.18 (1.32-3.61), 3.27 (1.58-6.76), 2.12 (1.29-3.50), 1.23 (0.99-1.53), 3.65 (1.89-7.04), all P < 0.05]. SOD and TAOC levels were negatively correlated with IRI ( r = -0.75, -0.84, both P < 0.05), while NF-κB, MDA, SF, serum iron and TRF were positively correlated with IRI ( r = 0.93, 0.96, 0.98, 0.07, 0.92, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Increased levels of iron metabolism and oxidative stress are risk factors for the occurrence of GDM, and they are closely related to the degree of insulin resistance. GDM screening should be carried out in advance in pregnant women with increased levels of iron metabolism and oxidative stress indicators, which plays a positive role in clinical diagnosis and treatment of GDM.