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Association between serum interleukin-6, leptin and insulin in gestational diabetes mellitus – a cross- sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a state of leptin resistance which develops a vicious cycle of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia leading to aggravation of an inflammatory situation. This study was done to find out the association between IL-6, leptin and insulin in gestational diabetes among North Indian women.

Method

This cross-sectional study included 100 GDM, 100 non-GDM and 50 non-pregnant women. DIPSI (Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India) criteria was used for screening GDM among pregnant women. GDM and non-GDM pregnant women were further categorized into three groups according to the trimester of pregnancy. Serum IL-6, leptin and insulin were measured in all the enrolled women.

Results

Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher among GDM women as compared to non-GDM and non-pregnant women. Although the mean serum leptin and insulin levels were higher in GDM, but the difference was not statistically significant. When GDM and non-GDM women were categorized into three trimester, serum leptin levels were found to be significantly higher in 3rd trimester (p < 0.002) and IL-6 in 1st trimester (p < 0.017) among GDM women. No correlation was found between serum IL-6, leptin and insulin in GDM.

Conclusion

Absence of any significant association between leptin and IL-6 signifies that leptin may not be associated with inflammation in gestational diabetes. However, IL-6 may serve as an early marker for screening glucose intolerance during pregnancy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Council of Science and Technology, U.P., India (UPCST) for providing financial support during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical University, 226003, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Neha Srivastava, Kalpana Singh & Abbas Ali Mahdi

  2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, King George’s Medical University, 226003, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Nisha Singh

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  1. Neha Srivastava
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  2. Kalpana Singh
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  4. Abbas Ali Mahdi
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Correspondence to Kalpana Singh.

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This study was approved by our Institutional (King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India) Ethical Committee. Informed and written consent was obtained from all the enrolled participants.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

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Srivastava, N., Singh, K., Singh, N. et al. Association between serum interleukin-6, leptin and insulin in gestational diabetes mellitus – a cross- sectional study. J Diabetes Metab Disord 22, 639–648 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-023-01188-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-023-01188-3

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