Serum Nesfatin-1 levels in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is impaired glucose tolerance discovered during pregnancy. In women who had GDM are at risk of impaired glucose tolerance during their later life. Therefore screening tests are valuable both for pregnancy and for postpartum periods.The aim of the present study was to assess the serum levels of Nesfatin-1, a recently discovered hormone having a role in glucose metabolism, obesity, insulin resistance and appetite control in pregnant women with GDM and healthy controls and also during postpartum period, thereby, the association between Nesfatin-1 levels and GDM will be revealed and the potential role of Nesfatin-1 in the pathophysiology of GDM.Nesfatin-1 levels during pregnancy, both in women with GDM and healthy controls, were found to be lower than those found during postpartum period. This study included 20 pregnant women with GDM having a mean age of 30, 25±25 and as a control group of 20 healthy pregnant women with a mean age of 27.80±5, 34. Glucose tolerance test was performed in all women between 24-28 gestational weeks. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained from all the women both during the 24-28 gestational weeks and at 24 hours during the postpartum period. Hormones were analysed with ELISA technique. Furthermore, serum Nesfatin-1 levels were found to be significantly lower in women with GDM compared to those in healthy pregnants (p<0.01). In the postpartum period, Nesfatin-1 levels were observed to be increased in both women with GDM and healthy controls, being more in women with GDM. However, postpartum Nesfatin-1 levels between women with GDM and healthy controls were found to be statistically similar (p=0.239).Nesfatin-1 levels were found to be lower during pregnancy compared to pastpartum period. It was significantly lower in GDM group which suggest that nesfatin-1 may play a role.Key words: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Nesfatin-1