Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the contribution of genetic variation in some previously reported gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) susceptibility loci and lifestyle parameters to GDM risk.

Methods: We performed a case-control study of 278 GDM cases and 179 controls who had filled up special questionnaires concerning their lifestyle habits during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on the 24–32 week of gestation. The questionnaire consisted of the following sections, stratified in a semi-quantitative manner: the consumption of major food groups and drinks, the amount of physical activity and smoking before and during pregnancy. GDM was diagnosed according to the IADPSG criteria. Maternal blood was sampled for further genotyping of single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs) in MTNR1B (rs10830963 and rs1387153), GCK (rs1799884), KCNJ11 (rs5219), IGF2BP2 (rs4402960), TCF7L2 (rs7903146), CDKAL1 (rs7754840) and IRS1 (rs1801278). Binary logistic regression (forward conditional) was accomplished to identify the contribution of «classical» risk factors for GDM (advanced maternal age, higher body mass index (BMI), history of GDM, impaired glucose tolerance, arterial hypertension, family history of diabetes), lifestyle parameters and the above mentioned SNPs to the assessment of GDM risk.

Results: After automatic lineal modeling the following factors proved to be associated with the increased GDM risk: age (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.06–1.16, P<0.001), BMI (OR=1.09, 95% CI=1.05–1.14, P<0.001), the presence of G allele of rs10830963 (OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.4–3.1, P=0.001), T allele of rs1799884 (OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.3–3.4, P=0.003) and consumption of sausage > 3 times a week (OR=2.55, 95%CI=1.36–4.78, P=0.004) compared to less consumption. Legumes consumption 1–2 times a week was associated with the decreased risk of GDM, when compared to less consumption (OR=0.59, 95%CI=0.36–0.97, P=0.036).

Conclusion: MTNR1B and GCK variants, some eating habits along with an increment in maternal age and BMI were associated with the increased risk of GDM.