Metabolomic Profiles of Nonobese and Obese Women With Gestational Diabetes.

Abstract

To examine whether nonobese (BMI<30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2) women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and obese non-GDM women differ in metabolomic profiles from nonobese non-GDM controls. Levels of 66 metabolic measures were assessed in early (median 13, IQR 12.4-13.7 gestation weeks), and across early, mid (20, 19.3-23.0) and late (28, 27.0-35.0) -pregnancy blood samples in 755 pregnant women of the PREDO and RADIEL studies. The independent replication cohort comprised 490 pregnant women. Nonobese and obese GDM, and obese non-GDM women differed similarly from the controls across early, mid, and late pregnancy in 13 measures, including VLDL-related measures, and fatty acids. In 6 measures, including fatty acid ratios, glycolysis-related measures, valine and 3-hydroxybutyrate, the differences between obese GDM women and controls were more pronounced than the differences between nonobese GDM or obese non-GDM women and controls. In 16 measures, including HDL-related measures, fatty acid ratios, amino acids and inflammation, differences between obese GDM or obese non-GDM women and controls were more pronounced than the differences between nonobese GDM women and controls. Most differences were evident in early pregnancy, and in the replication cohort were more often in the same direction than would be expected by chance alone. Differences between nonobese and obese GDM, or obese non-GDM women and controls in metabolomic profiles may allow detection of high-risk women for timely targeted preventive interventions.