Association between zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein and lipid profile among pregnant women with gestational diabetes

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Background: Gestational diabetes is a condition that occurs during the latter stages of pregnancy and is marked by notable resistance to insulin due to the release of hormones by the placenta. Zinc alpha 2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is an intriguing protein due to its ability to perform numerous essential functions in the human body. Prior research has linked ZAG to lipid metabolism. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the ZAG level in GDM pregnant women undergoing different therapeutic modalities. Furthermore, the study examines the correlation between ZAG and lipid parameters. Method: The study included a sample of 76 pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years. A total of 22 pregnant women without any health issues (Group 1), 30 pregnant women recently diagnosed with GDM (Group 2), and 24 pregnant women with GDM who were receiving various treatments (Group 3) were included in the study. All participants were in their second or third trimester of pregnancy, and their demographic information and lipid measurements were assessed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in ZAG levels among study groups (P ≥ 0.05); hence, GDM pregnant women in Group 2 showed the highest level. In GDM pregnant women who received treatment, there was a significant difference in ZAG levels among subgroups (p<0.01). The metformin group had the lowest level of ZAG. The high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in GDM-pregnant women in Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.05). Only in Group 3, ZAG levels and other lipid parameters (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and very low-density lipoprotein) were highly statistically significantly correlated with each other (p<0.01), except for triglyceride levels, where there was no correlation between them (p≥0.05). Conclusion: The current findings revealed that ZAG levels are altered in GDM pregnant women and are beneficial indicators for metabolic status during treatment. ZAG levels correlate well with the lipid profile in GDM pregnant women who received treatment.