Circulating spexin levels are influenced by the presence or absence of gestational diabetes.

The study aimed to determine whether circulating spexin (SPX) is modified during the course of pregnancy and whether it is affected by the presence of glucose intolerance, i.e., Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). This prospective study included 102 pregnant women (63 non-GDM and 39 GDM; mean age 29.4 ±â€¯5.1 years; mean BMI 28.0 ±â€¯6.1 kg/m2). Anthropometrics, glycemic and lipid profiles, as well measurements of circulating adipocytokines and SPX were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. In GDM patients, SPX levels increased significantly after 6-months, in parallel with a borderline significant increase in glucose (p = 0.07). In non-GDM patients, however, median SPX level decreased from baseline to 6-months (p < 0.01), and this change was not associated with changes in glucose levels. Change in glucose from baseline to 6-months was positively associated with change in SPX in GDM patients only (R = 0.37; p < 0.05). SPX levels are positively influenced by glucose intolerance in pregnant women with GDM, while they decrease in control women without GDM.

Associations of Spexin and cardiometabolic parameters among women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.

Spexin (SPX) is a novel biomarker abundantly expressed in several animal and human tissues implicated in food intake and glucose control, respectively. As new roles for SPX are emerging, the present study explored for the first time, the associations of SPX to several cardiometabolic indices and inflammatory markers in pregnant women, a demographic not yet investigated with respect to SPX. A total of 117 Saudi women subdivided to those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (N = 63) and those without (N = 54) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, glycemic, lipid, vitamin D, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers were measured consecutively at baseline and after the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Age- and BMI adjusted comparisons revealed that levels of SPX were not significantly different in pregnant women with and without GDM. In all subjects, circulating levels of SPX showed modest associations with glucose (R = 0.18; p = .08) and HOMA ß (R = -0.19; p = .09) as well as significant positive associations with total cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), LDL-cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), 25(OH)D (R = 0.22; p = .04), albumin (R = 0.30; p < .01) and IL1ß (R = 0.41; p < .01). Stepwise regression analysis also suggested that IL1ß, leptin and albumin were the significant predictors of SPX. In summary, SPX levels modestly affect glucose and insulin sensitivity in pregnant women but is not associated with GDM and obesity. The significant association of SPX to ILß warrants further investigation as to the role of SPX in immune modulation.