Serum betatrophin levels and fatty acid profile in gestational diabetes mellitus: Correlation with insulin resistance

Introduction and Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) involves insulin resistance, altered levels of adipocytokines and inflammation. Interaction of various molecules in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance plays a major role in GDM. Angiopoietin-like protein 8, also named betatrophin is a hormone which is synthesized from liver and adipocytes. This molecule has beta cell-regenerating effect and is proposed to have therapeutic potential in obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of betatrophin and free fatty acids (FFA) as markers of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in Medical College Hospital on pregnant women with the normal body mass index. The study subjects were divided into 2 groups -one with healthy pregnant women and the other GDM and recruited for the study at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. The levels of betatrophin, insulin and FFA were estimated in the serum and HOMA-IR was calculated. Results: Insulin resistance (IR), serum betatrophin level and plasma omega-6 fatty acid levels were higher, and plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels were lower among GDM subjects in comparison to healthy pregnant women.  Fasting plasma glucose, serum betatrophin level and dihomo gamma linolenic acid level showed significant positive correlation with IR while omega 3 fatty acid %, levels of alpha linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid and lauric acid showed negative correlation with IR in GDM women.  Conclusion: Altered fatty acid profile in gestational diabetes mellitus indicated potential application of fatty acids as biomarkers of metabolic derangements which arise due to insulin resistance. The findings have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications.