A study of bone turnover markers in gestational diabetes mellitus

Long-term effects of gestational diabetes on bone mineral density and fracture risk: Analysis of the Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk) population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication. This study aims to investigate the association between a history of GDM and bone mineral density (BMD), fractures, and falls in later life.

STUDY DESIGN

We used data from the Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk) where BMD at calcaneum was measured at second health check (1997-2000) using broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and velocity of sound (VOS) in 7,515 women. Fractures and falls were documented from hospital admissions data via linkage with ENCORE (East Norfolk Commission Record) and history of GDM from health questionnaires at baseline. We examined the relationship between GDM and BUA/VOS using linear regression. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident fractures and falls, controlling for age, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, area deprivation, self-reported stroke, use of diuretics, calcium and vitamin D supplements, social class and education, statin and total blood cholesterol, prevalent diabetes, hormone therapy and menopausal status.

RESULTS

History of GDM (n = 183) was not statistically significantly associated with BUA/VOS in fully adjusted linear regression models with unstandardised beta coefficients (standard error): -0.37 (1.40) and -5.41 (3.48). GDM was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with risk of hip and all fractures, fully adjusted HRs(95 %CI) 2.46(1.54-3.92) and 1.60(1.09-2.35), respectively. Median follow-up from first live birth to date of admission was 53 and 52 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There was an association between history of GDM and risk of any fracture as well as hip fracture specifically. Further research is required to confirm this.

Role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on metabolic profile and oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial

AIM

To assess role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on the metabolic profile and oxidative stress in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) controlled on diet.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Seventy women diagnosed as GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation, controlled on a diabetic diet, were randomized to receive either vitamin D 1000 IU and calcium 1000 mg (group A, n = 34) or vitamin D 250 IU and calcium 500 mg (group B, n = 36) daily for 6 weeks. Levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin, fasting lipid profile and total glutathione (GSH) were analyzed both prior to and after supplementation. Means, standard deviations and mean change were computed. Paired and independent t-tests were used to determine statistical significance between the two groups.

RESULTS

Women in group A showed a significant reduction in FPG level (P-value = 0.007), fasting serum insulin level (P-value = 0.000), LDL (P-value = 0.000), total cholesterol levels (P-value = 0.000) and increase in HDL levels (P-value = 0.000). Group B had a significant fall only in FPG after 6 weeks supplementation. A significant change in total glutathione level (P-value = 0.000) was observed in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation at a dose of 1000 IU and 1000 mg, respectively, has a beneficial role in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in GDM.

Characterization of Perinatal Risk Factors and Complications Associated With Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis

BACKGROUND

Certain intrauterine risk factors are known to increase the risk of premature cranial suture fusion and may cause complications during birth. Some of these risk factors may be modifiable. Therefore, the authors sought to characterize the institutional patterns of prenatal risk factors and perinatal complications in nonsyndromic craniosynostosis patients compared to normal births from the surrounding area to identify areas for possible intervention or prevention.

METHODS

The medical records of all infants with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and full birth records born at Duke University Health System from 2006 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Maternal comorbidities, prenatal risk factors, and perinatal complications were collected. The North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics was queried for perinatal statistics from Durham county and the Northeastern Perinatal Care Region to represent a control cohort of normal births from the same time period and region. The primary outcome investigated was the incidence of prenatal risk factors and complications at birth associated with premature fusion of cranial sutures.

RESULTS

Eighty births with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis were included in this study. The majority of these patients were males (61.7%) and born via cesarean section (55.0%). Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 10.0% and head trauma during delivery occurred in 2.5%. Twinning (14.8% vs 3.6%, P < 0.0001), cesarean births (55.5% vs 30.0%, P < 0.0001), and breech presentation (17.3% vs 3.2%, P < 0.0001) were significantly more common in craniosynostosis patients. Prenatally, mothers of craniosynostosis infants had higher incidence of gestational diabetes (13.5% vs 5.0%, P < 0.0001) and oligohydramnios (6.1% vs 1.3%, P < 0.0001) compared to regional controls.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that premature suture fusion is associated with prenatal risk factors such as gestational diabetes and oligohydramnios. Continued research into potentially modifiable prenatal risk factors and more refined prenatal diagnostic tools has the potential to reduce both the incidence of premature suture fusion and the sequelae of birth complications in this population.

Early maternal circulating alkaline phosphatase with subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus and glucose regulation: a prospective cohort study in China

PURPOSE

Emerging clinical evidence has implied that alkaline phosphatase (ALP) may contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, there were no studies to reveal the independent and prospective associations between ALP and GDM. Our aim was to explore the independent and prospective associations between early maternal ALP level and GDM risk and glucose regulation.

METHODS

In a prospective cohort study with 2073 singleton mothers at four maternity units in China, maternal serum ALP levels were measured before 20 gestational weeks. Using logistic regression, we analyzed the relationship between maternal ALP level and risk of GDM. We further explored the relationships of ALP level to fasting blood glucose (FBG), 1-h and 2-h post-load blood glucose (1-h, 2-h PBG) with multiple linear regression. Finally, we analyzed the association between maternal ALP level and isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG) and isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT) risk.

RESULTS

The maximum value of maternal ALP level was 90 U/L, within the normal range. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio (ORs) of GDM increased linearly with ALP level (p for overall association = 0.002, p for nonlinear association = 0.799), with the OR comparing the highest versus lowest quartile of 2.47 (95% CI 1.47, 4.15). Moreover, each additional of 10 U/L ALP level was associated with a 2% higher FBG (p = 0.043) and a 12% higher 1-h PBG (p = 0.004). Higher ALP level also increased the risk of i-IFG (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.17-11.86) and i-IGT (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.07-3.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Even within the upper limit of normal, higher early maternal ALP level could increase the risk of GDM. Moreover, both FBG and PBG were increased with early maternal ALP.

Disparities in the timing and measurement methods to assess vitamin D status during pregnancy: A Narrative Review

Studies that examined associations between low circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and adverse pregnancy outcomes used various designs, assay methods and time points for measurement of 25(OH)D concentrations, which creates some confusion in the current literature. We aimed to investigate the variability in the timing and measurement methods used to evaluate vitamin D status during pregnancy. Analysis of 198 studies published between 1976 and 2017 showed an important variability in the choice of 1) threshold values for 25(OH)D insufficiency or deficiency, 2) 25(OH)D measurement methods, and 3) trimester in which 25(OH)D concentrations were measured. Blood samples were taken once during pregnancy in a large majority of studies, which may not be representative of vitamin D status throughout pregnancy. Most studies reported adjustment for confounding factors including season of blood sampling, but very few studies used the 25(OH)D gold standard assay, the LC-MS/MS. Prospective studies assessing maternal 25(OH)D concentrations 1) by standardized and validated methods, 2) at various time points during pregnancy, and 3) after considering potential confounding factors, are needed.