Adipocyte-Specific Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (AFABP) and Chemerin in Association with Gestational Diabetes: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Adipocytokines participate in regulating the inflammatory response in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes. However, among these peptides, the role of adipocyte-specific fatty-acid-binding protein (AFABP), chemerin, and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in gestational diabetes (GDM) has not been fully investigated. METHOD: The maternal fasting level of adipocytokines of 53 subjects with GDM and 43 normal pregnant (NGDM) was measured using multiplex immunoassay at 24-28 weeks, before delivery, immediate postpartum, and 2-6 months postpuerperium. RESULTS: Higher levels of AFABP were associated with a 3.7-fold higher risk of GDM. Low chemerin levels were associated with a 3.6-fold higher risk of GDM. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was inversely associated with the risk of GDM. SPARC had no association with GDM. AFABP was directly correlated to interleukin-6 (r = 0.50), insulin resistance index (r = 0.26), and body mass index (r = 0.28) and inversely correlated to C-reactive protein (r = -0.27). Chemerin levels were directly and strongly correlated with IL-10 (r = 0.41) and interleukin-4 (r = 0.50) and inversely correlated to insulin resistance index (r = -0.23) in GDM but not NGDM. In the longitudinal assessment, there were no significant differences in AFABP and chemerin concentrations of both studied groups. CONCLUSION: AFABP and chemerin were associated with a higher risk of GDM. These adipocytokines were related to insulin resistance, body mass index, and inflammation in pregnant women diagnosed with GDM.

The Role of Sleep Curtailment on Leptin Levels in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus.

Emerging evidence has identified sleep as a significant, but modifiable, risk factor for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide and a regulator of food intake and energy expenditure, has been shown to be associated with a short sleep duration in the pathophysiology of obesity and consequently type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on the current evidence indicating the effects of a short sleep duration on the regulation of leptin concentration in association with obesity and diabetes mellitus. In summary, the evidence suggests that sleep deprivation, by affecting leptin regulation, may lead to obesity and consequently development of type 2 diabetes through increased appetite and food intake. However, findings on the role of leptin in diabetes due to sleep deprivation are contradictory, and further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm previous findings.

Second-trimester maternal serum vitamin D and pregnancy outcome: The Western Australian Raine cohort study.

AIMS: To assess the effect of maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D levels during the second trimester of pregnancy on the risk for gestational diabetes (GDM), pregnancy and infantile outcomes. METHODS: This study is based on the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) study. Maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D concentrations of 890 pregnant women were evaluated at 18 weeks pregnancy and grouped into serum Vitamin D quartiles (>30, 30-49, 50-74 and >75 nmol/L). RESULTS: Participants with de-seasonalized 25 (OH)-vitamin D levels <30 nmol/L were more likely to develop GDM, but not after controlling for ethnicity. Women with high body mass index (BMI) >30 were at a greater risk of developing GDM. Additionally, women with GDM were at a greater risk of primary caesarean delivery. Maternal serum levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D were positively associated with birth weight, body length and head circumference of the neonate. CONCLUSION: Low maternal serum levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D are associated with GDM gestational diabetes, and race/ethnicity may modify this relationship. High pre-gestational BMI may predict GDM risk. GDM in pregnancy may increase the risk for delivery by caesarean section. Maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D is associated with anthropometric measures of the neonate.

Vitamin D and sleep duration: Is there a bidirectional relationship?

Vitamin D contributes to numerous physiological processes within the body but primarily calcium and bone homeostasis. Emerging evidence highlights a novel role for vitamin D in maintaining and regulating optimal sleep. Sleep is a known regulator of bone health, highlighting the interconnectedness between vitamin D concentrations, sleep duration and bone metabolism. It is possible that the relationship between sleep length and vitamin D is bidirectional, with vitamin D playing a role in sleep health and conversely, sleep affecting vitamin D levels. Nevertheless, limited information on the direction of the interaction is available, and much remains to be learned concerning the complex relationship between insufficient sleep duration and vitamin D deficiency. Given the potential to implement interventions to improve sleep and vitamin D supplementation, understanding this relationship further could represent a novel way to support and improve health.

Serum FGF-21 and FGF-23 in association with gestational diabetes: a longitudinal case-control study.

Background Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs); FGF-21 and FGF-23, have been proposed to be associated with metabolic syndrome. However, data on the role of these peptides in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are limited. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the association of serum FGF-21 and FGF-23 with the risk of GDM. Furthermore, we evaluated the circulation of these peptides in pregnancy and post-puerperium. Materials and methods Fifty-three pregnant subjects with GDM and 43 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant women participated in this study. Serum FGF-21 and FGF-23 were measured during pregnancy and post-puerperium. Results FGF-21 and FGF-23 were low in GDM compared to NGT during pregnancy. There were no significant differences in the level of these peptides post-puerperium. Using logistic regression, FGF-23 [odds ratio (OR) 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.96)] was inversely associated with GDM, so a 1-µg/mL decrease in FGF-23 levels was associated with a 1.4-fold increased risk of developing GDM and this remained statistically significant after adjustment for confounders [adjusted OR (aOR) 0.70 (95% CI: 0.50-0.98)]. There was no association of FGF-21 with the development of GDM risk. Conclusions Lower FGF-23 concentrations could be involved in the pathophysiology of GDM. FGF-21, even though associated with metabolic risk factors in pregnancy, may not be a fundamental factor in GDM.

Serum Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) in association with the Risk of Gestational Diabetes: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Defects in incretin have been shown to be related to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Whether such a deficiency happens in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains to be confirmed. We assessed the association of fasting glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) with GDM. We also studied the longitudinal circulation of these peptides during pregnancy and afterwards. METHODS: 53 women with GDM (30 managed with diet only (GDM-diet) and 23 treated with insulin (GDM-insulin)) and 43 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGDM) were studied, with GIP and GLP-1 levels measured at 24-28 weeks (E1), prior (E2) and after (E3) delivery, and postpuerperium (E4). RESULTS: Basal GIP was shown to be low in GDM groups compared to NGDM in E1, and in E4 for GDM-diet. GLP-1 was low in GDM groups during pregnancy and afterwards. At E1, serum GIP and GLP-1 were inversely associated with GDM and participants with lower levels of GIP (<0.23 ng/mL) and GLP-1 (<0.38 ng/mL) had a 6 (95% CI 2.5-14.5)- and 7.6 (95% CI 3.0-19.1)-fold higher risk of developing GDM compared with the higher level, respectively. In the postpuerperium, when there is a drop in ß-cell function, participants with previous GDM (pGDM) presented lower GLP-1 (in both GDM subgroups) and lower GIP in GDM-diet subgroup compared to controls. CONCLUSION: There is an independent, inverse association between fasting incretins and higher risk of GDM. Furthermore, lowered levels of these peptides may play an important role in the abnormality of glucose regulation following pregnancy.

Histological changes of female reproductive organs subjected to different jumping exercise intensities and honey supplementation in rats.

BACKGROUND: We assessed histopathological changes of ovaries and uterus in female rats subjected to different jumping exercise intensities combined with honey supplementation at one g/kg body weight/day. METHODS: A total of 72 rats were divided into six groups, 12 rats in each: control (C), 20 and 80 jumps (20E, 80E), honey (H), and 20 and 80 jump with honey (20EH, 80EH). RESULTS: The endometrium was significantly thicker in the rats in H, 20EH and 80EH groups compared to C, 20E, and 80E. The myometrium thickness was significantly lower in 80E and significantly higher in 80EH compared to C, respectively. There was significantly higher myometrium thickness in 20EH and 80EH compared to 20E and 80E and H. The number of glands of the uterus in 20E and 80E was significantly lower than C. However, there was a significantly higher number of glands in H, 20EH, and 80EH compared to 20E and 80E. The numbers of uterus vessels were significantly lower in 80E compared to 20E. However, the numbers of vessels were significantly higher in H, 20EH, and 80EH compared to 80E. The number of ovarian haemorregia was significantly lower in 20E, 80E, H, 20EH, and 80EH compared to C. The number of corpora lutea was significantly lower in 80EH, H, 80E, and 20E compared to C. However, the number of corpora lutea was significantly higher in 20EH compared to J20 and H. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that jumping exercises in particularly high-intensity exercise may induce histopathological changes in uterus and ovary in rats, and honey supplementation may ameliorate these effects.

A case-control study and meta-analysis confirm glucokinase regulatory gene rs780094 is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Although the influence of a common variant in the glucokinase regulatory gene (GCKR rs780094) in type 2 diabetes mellitus has been well documented, less data however, is available of its role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We carried out a case control study to assess the association between GCKR rs780094 and GDM in the Asian, and also a meta-analysis to further assess the strength of the association. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and genotype data were determined for 1122 women (267 cases and 855 controls) recruited from the University of Malaya Medical Centre in the Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur. Relevant articles were identified from Pubmed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Extraction of data was carried out and summary estimates of the association between rs780094 and GDM were examined. RESULTS: The frequency of risk allele C was significantly higher in the cases than controls (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09-1.66, P = 0.006). The C allele was also associated with increased level of random 2-hour fasting plasma glucose and pregravid body mass index. Meta-analysis further confirmed the association of the GCKR rs780094 with GDM (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.14-1.52, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study strongly suggests that GCKR rs780094-C is associated with increased risk of GDM.

Leptin and soluble leptin receptor in association with gestational diabetes: a prospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: To assess the association of serum leptin and its receptor (SLeptinR) with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to evaluate the longitudinal circulation of these peptides in pregnancy. METHODS: This study consisted of 53 subjects diagnosed with GDM and 43 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant women. Serum leptin and SLeptinR were measured at 24-28 weeks, prior and after delivery, and post-puerperium. RESULTS: Lower levels of leptin and SLeptinR were observed in GDM compared to NGT. Leptin [OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94-1.0)] and SLeptinR [OR 0.86 (95% CI 0.79-0.93]) were inversely associated with GDM. Participants in the lowest tertile for leptin and SLeptinR had a 2.8-fold (95% CI 1.0-7.6) and a 5.7-fold (95% CI 1.9-17.3) higher risk of developing GDM compared with the highest tertile, respectively. These relationships were attenuated after adjustment for covariates. In both the groups, peak leptin was observed at 24-28 weeks, decreasing continuously during pregnancy (p > 0.05) and after delivery (p < 0.017). SLeptinR level increased (p < 0.001) during pregnancy and decreased (p < 0.005) after delivery in GDM, however, levels remained the same in NGT. In GDM, leptin and SLeptinR was positively and inversely correlated with BMI and HOMA-IR at 24-28 weeks and post-puerperium, respectively. The cord levels of both leptin and SLeptinR were lower than maternal levels. There were no significant differences in serum cord leptin and SLeptinR levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: Leptin and SLeptinR are independently and inversely associated with GDM. Lower levels of these peptides may play an important role in the pathophysiology of GDM and pre-diabetic state in post-puerperium.

Effects of honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on bone mass, serum bone metabolism markers and gonadotropins in female rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of high and low jumping exercise intensities combined with honey on bone and gonadotrophins were investigated in eighty four 9 week-old female rats. METHODS: The experimental groups were 20 or 80 jumps per day combined with or without honey supplementation (HJ20, HJ80, J20 and J80), honey supplementation (H), sedentary without supplementation control (C), and baseline control (C0) groups. RESULTS: Study results showed that HJ80 elicited greatest beneficial effects on tibial and femoral mass, serum total calcium and alkaline phosphatase concentrations. There were significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone concentrations in H, J20, J80 compared to C, with exception of HJ20 and HJ80. Serum luteinizing hormone concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in HJ20, HJ80 and J20 compared to J80. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that high intensity jumping exercise combined with honey supplementation resulted more discernable effects on bone. Meanwhile, honey may protect against the adverse effects induced by jumping exercise on gonadotropins in female rats.

Stress hormone and reproductive system in response to honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities in female rats.

This study was performed to determine the effects of 8-week honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on serum cortisol, progesterone, estradiol, and reproductive organs. Eighty-four 9-week-old female rats were divided into 7 groups: baseline controls (C0), sedentary group (C), 20 and 80 jumps per day (Ex(20J), Ex(80J)), honey (H), and combined honey with 20 and 80 jumps per day (HEx(20J), HEx(80J)) groups. Jumping exercise was performed at 5 days/week and honey was given at a dosage of 1 g/kg body weight/day for 7 days/week. The level of serum cortisol was higher in Ex(20J) and Ex(80J) compared to C. There was significantly lower value of serum cortisol in HEx(20J) compared to Ex(80J). Serum progesterone levels were significantly lower in Ex(20J) and Ex(80J) compared to C. However, serum progesterone levels were significantly higher in HEx(20J) and HEx(80J) compared to Ex(20J) and Ex(80J). Relative uterine weights were significantly greater in HEx(20J) compared to C and HEx(80J), respectively. There was no significant difference in estradiol level and relative ovarian weights among all the groups. Therefore, honey elicited beneficial effects in reducing the increase of cortisol and in increasing the reduce of progesterone levels induced by different intensities jumping exercise in female rats.