Purpose: Fetuin A is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate circulating fetuin A concentrations in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Methods: Serum fetuin A levels were studied in 26 pregnant women with GDM and 24 healthy pregnant women between 24th and 28th gestational weeks. Fetuin A levels were also evaluated in 18 of women with GDM at postpartum.
Results: Fetuin A concentrations were significantly increased in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant women (35.0 ± 3.2 vs. 32.0 ± 4.4 ng/ml; p = 0.01). Also, fetuin A levels in women with GDM significantly decreased at postpartum period (35.0 ± 3.2 vs. 31.7 ± 3.9 ng/ml; p = 0.001). In whole pregnant women, there were positive correlations between fetuin A and HbA1c (r = 0.418, p = 0.002), total cholesterol (r = 0.332, p = 0.018) and triglycerides (r = 0.306, p = 0.031). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that HbA1c was the important predictor of circulating fetuin A level (beta = 0.375, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: In conclusion, our results indicate that serum fetuin A concentrations are increased in women with GDM and decreased after delivery. Therefore, fetuin A might have a role in the development of insulin resistance and the metabolic changes in GDM.