Helena E Miettinen1, Kristiina Rönö2, Saila B Koivusalo2, Johan G Eriksson3, Helena Gylling4. 1. University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Endocrinology, Finland. Electronic address: helena.miettinen@hus.fi. 2. University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women's Hospital, P.O. Box 140 Haartmaninkatu 2, 00029 HUS, Finland. 3. University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, General Practice and Primary Health Care, Folkhälsan Research Center, P.O. Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8 B, 6. Fl), Biomedicum, Helsinki, 00014, Finland; University of Helsinki National Institute for Health and Welfare, Chronic Disease Prevention, Finland. 4. University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Internal Medicine, P.O. BOX 700, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy may associate with changes in fetal cholesterol metabolism. We investigated if gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects newborn cholesterol metabolism as determined by cord blood squalene and non-cholesterol sterols. Furthermore, we examined potential correlations between cord blood and maternal serum non-cholesterol sterols. METHODS: Pregnant women at risk for GDM (BMI>30 kg/m2) were enrolled from maternity clinics in Finland. GDM was determined from the results of an oral glucose tolerance test. Serum samples were taken in the third trimester of pregnancy, and cord blood samples collected from their newborns at birth. Squalene and non-cholesterol sterols were analyzed from serum and cord blood by gas liquid chromatography. All women with GDM were in good glycaemic control. RESULTS: The ratios of squalene and non-cholesterol sterols to cholesterol (100 × μmol/mmol of cholesterol) in cord blood did not differ between the infants born to mothers with GDM (n = 15) or mothers with normal glucose tolerance (n = 13). The ratios of sitosterol and campesterol to cholesterol in the cord blood correlated with the corresponding maternal serum ratios (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In obese women under good glycaemic control, GDM did not affect newborn cholesterol metabolism. Cord blood sitosterol and campesterol ratios to cholesterol correlated with the corresponding maternal serum ratios thus potentially reflecting maternal-fetal cholesterol transport.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Impaired glucose metabolism during pregnancy may associate with changes in fetal cholesterol metabolism. We investigated if gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects newborn cholesterol metabolism as determined by cord blood squalene and non-cholesterol sterols. Furthermore, we examined potential correlations between cord blood and maternal serum non-cholesterol sterols. METHODS: Pregnant women at risk for GDM (BMI>30 kg/m2) were enrolled from maternity clinics in Finland. GDM was determined from the results of an oral glucose tolerance test. Serum samples were taken in the third trimester of pregnancy, and cord blood samples collected from their newborns at birth. Squalene and non-cholesterol sterols were analyzed from serum and cord blood by gas liquid chromatography. All women with GDM were in good glycaemic control. RESULTS: The ratios of squalene and non-cholesterol sterols to cholesterol (100 × μmol/mmol of cholesterol) in cord blood did not differ between the infants born to mothers with GDM (n = 15) or mothers with normal glucose tolerance (n = 13). The ratios of sitosterol and campesterol to cholesterol in the cord blood correlated with the corresponding maternal serum ratios (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In obesewomen under good glycaemic control, GDM did not affect newborn cholesterol metabolism. Cord blood sitosterol and campesterol ratios to cholesterol correlated with the corresponding maternal serum ratios thus potentially reflecting maternal-fetal cholesterol transport.
Authors: Francisco Algaba-Chueca; Elsa Maymó-Masip; Mónica Ballesteros; Albert Guarque; Alejandro Majali-Martínez; Olga Freixes; Núria Amigó; Sonia Fernández-Veledo; Joan Vendrell; Ana Megía Journal: Biomedicines Date: 2022-04-29