This article was originally published here
BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2021 Mar; 9 (1): e001551. doi: 10.1136 / bmjdrc-2020-001551.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A lipid metabolism disorder is associated with gestational diabetes (GDM). However, prospective studies on lipidomics and GDM risk in racially / ethnically diverse population groups are sparse. Here we wanted to (1) identify lipid networks in early pregnancy to mid-pregnancy that are associated with subsequent GDM risk, and (2) examine the associations of lipid networks with glycemic biomarkers to understand the underlying mechanisms.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study included 107 GDM cases confirmed using the Carpenter and Coustan criteria and 214 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development non-GDM-compliant controls annotated and 92 unannotated) and information on glycemic biomarkers in maternal plasma at visit 0 (10-14 weeks) and visit 1 (15-26 weeks). We constructed lipid networks using the weighted correlation network analysis technique. We investigated prospective associations of lipid networks and individual lipids with GDM risk using linear mixing-effect models. In addition, on both study visits we calculated the Pearson partial correlation for GDM-related lipid networks and individual lipids with plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide and glycated hemoglobin.
Results: Lipid networks characterized primarily by elevated plasma diglycerides and short, saturated / low unsaturated triglycerides and lower plasma cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelins, and phosphatidylcholines were associated with a higher risk of developing GDM (false detection rate (FDR) <0.05) . Among the individual lipids, 58 metabolites at visit 0 and 96 metabolites at visit 1 (40 metabolites at both time points) differed significantly between women who developed GDM and those who did not (FDR <0.05). In addition, GDM-related lipid networks and individual lipids showed consistent correlations with maternal glycemic markers, especially in early pregnancy at visit 0.
CONCLUSIONS: Plasma lipid metabolites in early pregnancy, both individually and interactively in different networks, were associated with subsequent GDM risk in racially / ethnically diverse US women. Future research is needed to evaluate lipid metabolites as etiological markers for GDM.
PMID: 33674279 | DOI: 10.1136 / bmjdrc-2020-001551
