Aim: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of visfatin in gestational diabetes mellitus.
Materials and methods: Forty-five pregnant women at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation were assigned to consume an initial screening test using a 1-h 50-g glucose load, and then a 3-h 100-g glucose load. The study group consisted of 23 patients who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus and the control group consisted of 22 healthy pregnant women. We studied the levels of visfatin and the other parameters of inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism between the 24th and 28th week of gestation and also between the 6th and 10th week after delivery.
Results: Plasma visfatin and glucose levels at 60 min after a 50-g and a 100-g glucose load between the 24th and 28th week of gestation were significantly higher in the gestational diabetes group than in the control group. There were no statistical differences in visfatin levels between the groups at 6-10 weeks post-partum.
Conclusion: Visfatin levels were significantly elevated in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and during the course of pregnancy and increased visfatin concentrations were reduced within 6 to 10 weeks after delivery.