Early pregnancy plasma fatty acid profiles of women later diagnosed with gestational diabetes
Journal article, 2021

Introduction Fatty acid (FA) concentrations have previously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, few studies on GDM have examined FA profiles in early pregnancy or before diagnosis. This study aimed to compare early pregnancy plasma FA profiles of women with and without GDM diagnoses as well as their reported dietary consumption. Research design and methods The subjects comprised 853 women from the prospective study: Pregnant Women in Iceland II (PREWICE II), attending their 11-14 weeks ultrasound appointment in 2017-2018. During the visit, blood samples were collected for plasma FA analysis, and dietary habits were assessed using a short food frequency questionnaire. Information on GDM diagnoses was then later extracted from medical records. Differences in FA profile between GDM cases and non-cases were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results GDM was diagnosed in 127 women (14.9%). Concentrations of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) n-6, PUFA n-3 and total FA were higher in the women who later developed GDM compared with those who did not (p≤0.05). The medians for total FA were 2898 μg/mL for the women with GDM and 2681 μg/mL for those without GDM. Mean adjusted difference for total FA between the groups was 133 μg/mL (95% CI 33 to 233). Similar results were observed in prepregnancy normal-weight women and overweight women/women with obesity. Overall diet quality in early pregnancy appeared to be lower among the women later diagnosed with GDM. Conclusion We found that plasma FA profiles in early pregnancy were different for women later diagnosed with GDM compared with those who were not, independent of the women's body mass index.

fatty acids

diabetes

diet

gestational

pregnancy

Author

Ellen Alma Tryggvadottir

Landspitali University Hospital

University of Iceland

Ingibjorg Gunnarsdottir

Landspitali University Hospital

University of Iceland

Bryndis Eva Birgisdottir

Landspitali University Hospital

University of Iceland

Laufey Hrolfsdottir

Akureyri Hospital

University of Iceland

Rikard Landberg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Ingibjorg Th Hreidarsdottir

Landspitali University Hospital

University of Iceland

Hildur Hardardottir

University of Iceland

Thorhallur Ingi Halldorsson

Landspitali University Hospital

University of Iceland

BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care

2052-4897 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 1 e002326

Subject Categories

General Practice

Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

Nutrition and Dietetics

DOI

10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002326

More information

Latest update

9/8/2021 6