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High Levels of 25-OH-Vitamin D and Copper in Pregnant Women with Abnormal Glucose Challenge Test

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Abstract

Several hormones and elements are involved in the homeostasis of glucose metabolism during pregnancy. This present study determined the differences among the factors involved in glucose regulation for pregnant women with and without an abnormal glucose challenge test (GCT), but without gestational diabetes mellitus, during the second trimester of gestation and the postpartum period. One hundred and six pregnant women who had received routine prenatal and postpartum examinations at our hospital were recruited. Sugar-related tests and the levels of pregnancy-associated hormones and 25-OH-vitamin D were performed using a clinical autoanalyzer; six elements were assessed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The women in the abnormal GCT group (n = 27) featured significantly higher levels of 25-OH-vitamin D (p = 0.006) and copper (p < 0.001) than those in the normal GCT group (n = 79). After adjusting for possible pregnancy factors, abnormal GCT remained the significant contributing factor for the elevated levels of 25-OH-vitamin D and copper during gestation (p = 0.046 and 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, significant positive correlations existed between 25-OH-vitamin D and glucose after a 50-g GCT (p = 0.001), 25-OH-vitamin D and HbA1C (p = 0.004), serum copper and glucose after a 50-g GCT (p = 0.003), and serum copper and HbA1C (p < 0.001). We conclude that blood 25-OH-vitamin D and copper are strongly correlated with glucose levels during gestation; these two factors are potential clinical predictors for maternal impaired glucose tolerance and, indirectly, for reducing perinatal risks and neonatal complications.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Fooyin University Hospital (grant FH-HR-105–06).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chien-Hua Chiang, Cheng-Fa Lee & Yeou-Lih Huang

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Wan-Ju Kung & Ching-Chiang Lin

  3. Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chien-Hung Lee

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Yeong-Hwa Zen

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Hui-Ru Yang & Yeou-Lih Huang

  6. Department of Education and Research, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Ching-Chiang Lin

  7. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Ching-Chiang Lin

  8. Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Yeou-Lih Huang

  9. Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Yeou-Lih Huang

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  1. Chien-Hua Chiang
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Contributions

C. H. Chiang, C. C. Lin, and Y. L. Huang designed the study and wrote the manuscript. W. J. Kung, Y. H. Zen, C. F. Lee, and H. R. Yang performed the analysis. C. H. Lee was responsible for the data analysis. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ching-Chiang Lin or Yeou-Lih Huang.

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Ethical Approval

Research involving human subjects complied with all relevant national regulations and institutional policies was performed in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration, and was approved by the authors’ Institutional Review Board (IRB no: FYH-IRB-105–08-01-A).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Chiang, CH., Kung, WJ., Lee, CH. et al. High Levels of 25-OH-Vitamin D and Copper in Pregnant Women with Abnormal Glucose Challenge Test. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 3060–3069 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02920-x

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