Amino acid profile in women with gestational diabetes mellitus treated with metformin or insulin

Aims: We compared the effects of metformin and insulin treatments of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on amino acid metabolism.Methods: 217 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were randomized to receive either metformin or insulin. 1H nuclear magnetic spectroscopy was used to determine serum concentrations of alanine, glutamine, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glucose and lactate at the time of diagnosis and at 36 gestational weeks (gw).Results: Majority of the amino acid concentrations increased from 30 to 36 gw. The rise in alanine (16% vs. 8%, p Conclusions: Compared to insulin metformin caused a greater increase in serum alanine, isoleucine and lactate concentrations. Although the observed differences in the metabolic variables were relatively small and not outright concerning, additional studies and follow-up data are required to ensure the safety of metformin use in pregnancy.</p

Cord serum metabolome and birth weight in patients with gestational diabetes treated with metformin, insulin, or diet alone

AbstractIntroductionRecent research has demonstrated the benefits of metformin treatment in gestational diabetes (GDM) on short-term pregnancy outcomes (including excessive fetal growth and pre-eclampsia), but its effects on fetal metabolism remain mostly unknown. Our aim was to study the effects of metformin treatment compared with insulin or diet on the cord serum metabolome and also to assess how these metabolites are related to birth weight (BW) in pregnancies complicated by GDM.Research design and methodsCord serum samples were available from 113, 97, and 98 patients with GDM treated with diet, insulin, and metformin, respectively. A targeted metabolome was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The patients in the metformin and insulin groups had participated in a previous randomized trial (NCT01240785).ResultsCord serum alanine was elevated in the metformin group (0.53 mmol/L) compared with the insulin (0.45 mmol/L, pConclusionsMetformin treatment in GDM leads to an increase in cord serum alanine. The possible long-term implications of elevated neonatal alanine in this context need to be evaluated in future studies. Although previous studies have shown that metformin increased maternal TG levels, the cord serum TG levels were not affected. Cord serum HDL cholesterol and several FA variables are related to the regulation of fetal growth in GDM. Moreover, these associations seem to be independent of maternal confounding factors.Trial registration number NCT01240785.</p

Dietary quality influences body composition in overweight and obese pregnant women

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Excessive adiposity and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been linked with maternal and offspring morbidity. We investigated the relation of maternal diet, physical activity and GWG on body composition in overweight and obese pregnant women.METHODS: Fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) of 110 overweight and obese pregnant women were measured by air displacement plethysmography in early and late pregnancy (mean 13.5 and 35.3 gestational weeks). At the same time points, the quality of overall diet was assessed by validated index of diet quality (IDQ) questionnaire (score < 10/15 denotes poor dietary quality and score ≥ 10/15 denotes good dietary quality), nutrient intakes by 3-day food diaries, and physical activity by questionnaire. Weight gain between early and late pregnancy was compared to the gestational weight gain guidelines issued by Institute of Medicine.RESULTS: Of the women, 77% gained more weight than recommended; this was related to greater dietary fat consumption (80 ± 21 g/day vs. 67 ± 11 g/day, p = 0.010) and greater increase in FM (2.7 ± 3.0 kg vs. -1.0 ± 2.4 kg, p < 0.001) compared to women with ideal GWG. Dietary protein intake (g) correlated positively with FFM at both time points (early pregnancy: r = 0.31, p < 0.002, late pregnancy: r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Women with higher dietary quality index score had more FFM, compared to women with lower dietary quality (early pregnancy FFM: 48.8 ± 5.8 kg vs. 45.8 ± 4.7 kg, p = 0.004, late pregnancy FFM: 56.1 ± 6.4 kg vs. 53.4 ± 5.6 kg, p = 0.025). No correlations were detected between total energy intake or physical activity and FM or FFM at early or late pregnancy.CONCLUSIONS: Body composition changes from early to late pregnancy were related to the amount of weight gained and overall dietary quality during pregnancy. Higher dietary quality and protein intake were associated with greater FFM, while dietary fat intake was related to excess weight gain. Identification of these dietary determinants of body composition and weight offers new targets for dietary counseling of pregnant women and thus potential for ensuing health benefits through reduced adiposity.</p

Body composition measurement by air displacement plethysmography in pregnancy: Comparison of predicted versus measured thoracic gas volume

ObjectivesBody composition measurements with air displacement plethysmography (ADP) define body volume, which must be corrected for thoracic gas volume (TGV). We hypothesized that physiologic changes owing to pregnancy could affect the accuracy of predicted TGV and introduce errors into body composition measurements.MethodsWe investigated the effect of measuring versus predicting TGV on the accuracy of body composition calculations measured with ADP in overweight and obese pregnant women. The fat and fat-free masses of 110 women were determined with ADP with predicted and measured TGV.ResultsMeasured TGV decreased from early to late pregnancy (P = 0.0002). Compared with measured TGV, predicted TGV was 6.3% higher during early gestation and 12.6% higher during late gestation (both P ≤ 0.001). The use of predicted instead of measured TGV in body composition calculations resulted in an overestimation of fat mass by 0.8% during the early stage, and 2.6% during the late stage of pregnancy (both P ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsMeasuring TGV increases the accuracy of body composition measurement by ADP in overweight and obese women, particularly during the late stage of pregnancy.</div

Potential pathobionts in vaginal microbiota are affected by fish oil and/or probiotics intervention in overweight and obese pregnant women

New means to stabilize the microbial balance during pregnancy could benefit maternal health. Our objectives were to investigate in overweight/obese pregnant women 1) the impact of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) and/or probiotics on the vaginal microbiota, 2) its relation to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 3) its interaction with vaginal active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1), IGFBP-1 and aMMP-8.& nbsp;The women were allocated to fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics and placebo + placebo-groups, from early pregnancy onwards (fish oil: 1.9 g docosahexaenoic acid and 0.22 g eicosapentaenoic acid; probiotics: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420, 10(10) colony-forming units each). Vaginal and serum samples (early pregnancy, n = 112; late pregnancy, n = 116), were analyzed for vaginal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and vaginal aMMP-8 and serum hsCRP, aMMP-8, phIGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1 by immunoassays. GDM was diagnosed from a 2-h 75 g OGTT. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01922791.& nbsp;The intervention exerted effects on many low-abundant bacteria. Compared to the placebo-group, there was a lower abundance of potential pathobionts, namely Ureaplasma urealyticum in the fish oil-group, Ureaplasma, U. urealyticum and Prevotella disiens in the probiotics-group, Dialister invisus and Prevotella timonensis in the fish oil + probiotics-group. Moreover, probiotics decreased the abundance of a few potential pathobionts during pregnancy. Many bacteria were related to GDM. The vaginal aMMP-8 level correlated significantly with alpha-diversity and inversely with two Lactobacillus species.& nbsp;Dietary interventions, especially probiotics, may have beneficial effects on the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy.Peer reviewe

The efficacy of probiotics and/or n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids intervention on maternal prenatal and postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms among overweight and obese women

Maternal depression and anxiety may endanger well-being of both mother and child. We investigated the efficacy of probiotics and/or fish oil (FO) in modifying pre- and postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms. Symptom trajectories were identified and the influence of lifestyle factors on symptoms was evaluated.\nOverweight women (n = 439) were randomized to intervention groups (probiotics+FO, probiotics+placebo, FO+placebo, placebo+placebo) from early pregnancy until six months postpartum, and assessed for depressive and anxiety symptoms with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Anxiety subscale of Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90) at early and late pregnancy and three, six and 12 months postpartum. Latent growth mixture modeling was used to model the symptom courses. Dietary quality and physical activity were assessed with validated indices.\nSymptom scores were generally low. Statistically significant intervention effect was seen during pregnancy (p = 0.017): EPDS scores increased (by 1.11 points) in the FO+probiotics group and decreased (by 0.85 points) in the FO+placebo group. At 12 months postpartum, FO+placebo group had lower EPDS scores compared to probiotics+placebo group (p = 0.039). No differences in SCL scores were seen in response to the intervention. Irrespective of the intervention, three depressive and two anxiety symptoms trajectories were identified. Dietary quality correlated negatively with depressive symptoms in early pregnancy and six months postpartum and with anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy. Perinatal events including mother-reported colic were related to symptoms.\nSecondary outcomes of the primary trial.\nIntervention had a modest impact on depressive symptoms. Diet and obstetric events were associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms.\nBACKGROUND\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nLIMITATIONS\nCONCLUSION

A healthy dietary pattern with a low inflammatory potential reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

Purpose: An optimal diet for lowering the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is still to be defined, but may comprise of nutrient intakes, dietary patterns, diet quality, and eating frequency. This study was designed to investigate the contribution of diet in developing GDM in a comprehensive way.Methods: The dietary intake of overweight or obese women, a risk group for GDM (n = 351), was assessed using 3-day food diaries and diet quality questionnaires in early pregnancy. Eating frequency and nutrient intakes were calculated, and dietary patterns identified using principal component analysis. The inflammatory potential of the diet was determined by calculating the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™). GDM was diagnosed with an oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 gestational weeks.Results: Higher adherence to 'healthier dietary pattern' characterized by consumptions of vegetables and rye bread associated with a reduced risk of GDM (adjusted OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11-0.70). Higher E-DII score, indicating pro-inflammatory diet, was associated with a 27% higher risk of GDM (adjusted OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.08-1.49) for each E-DII point. In the evaluation of nutrient intakes, total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and trans fatty acids were higher and fiber lower in women developing GDM compared to women not developing GDM (all p Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance of an overall healthy diet and limitation of foods with SFAs, and other nutrients with a high inflammatory potential in reducing the risk of GDM.</p

Potential pathobionts in vaginal microbiota are affected by fish oil and/or probiotics intervention in overweight and obese pregnant women

New means to stabilize the microbial balance during pregnancy could benefit maternal health. Our objectives were to investigate in overweight/obese pregnant women 1) the impact of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) and/or probiotics on the vaginal microbiota, 2) its relation to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 3) its interaction with vaginal active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1), IGFBP-1 and aMMP-8.The women were allocated to fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics and placebo + placebo-groups, from early pregnancy onwards (fish oil: 1.9 g docosahexaenoic acid and 0.22 g eicosapentaenoic acid; probiotics: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420, 1010 colony-forming units each). Vaginal and serum samples (early pregnancy, n = 112; late pregnancy, n = 116), were analyzed for vaginal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and vaginal aMMP-8 and serum hsCRP, aMMP-8, phIGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1 by immunoassays. GDM was diagnosed from a 2-h 75 g OGTT. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01922791.The intervention exerted effects on many low-abundant bacteria. Compared to the placebo-group, there was a lower abundance of potential pathobionts, namely Ureaplasma urealyticum in the fish oil-group, Ureaplasma, U. urealyticum and Prevotella disiens in the probiotics-group, Dialister invisus and Prevotella timonensis in the fish oil + probiotics-group. Moreover, probiotics decreased the abundance of a few potential pathobionts during pregnancy. Many bacteria were related to GDM. The vaginal aMMP-8 level correlated significantly with α-diversity and inversely with two Lactobacillus species.Dietary interventions, especially probiotics, may have beneficial effects on the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy.</div