Metabolomics. 2021 Nov 27;17(12):105. doi: 10.1007/s11306-021-01857-5.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly increases maternal and fetal health risks, but factors predictive of GDM are poorly understood.
OBJECTIVES: Plasma metabolomics analyses were conducted in early pregnancy to identify potential metabolites associated with prediction of GDM.
METHODS: Sixty-eight pregnant women with overweight/obesity from a clinical trial of a lifestyle intervention were included. Participants who developed GDM (n = 34; GDM group) were matched on treatment group, age, body mass index, and ethnicity with those who did not develop GDM (n = 34; Non-GDM group). Blood draws were completed early in pregnancy (10-16 weeks). Plasma samples were analyzed by UPLC-MS using three metabolomics assays.
RESULTS: One hundred thirty moieties were identified. Thirteen metabolites including pyrimidine/purine derivatives involved in uric acid metabolism, carboxylic acids, fatty acylcarnitines, and sphingomyelins (SM) were different when comparing the GDM vs. the Non-GDM groups (p < 0.05). The most significant differences were elevations in the metabolites’ hypoxanthine, xanthine and alpha-hydroxybutyrate (p < 0.002, adjusted p < 0.02) in GDM patients. A panel consisting of four metabolites: SM 14:0, hypoxanthine, alpha-hydroxybutyrate, and xanthine presented the highest diagnostic accuracy with an AUC = 0.833 (95% CI: 0.572686-0.893946), classifying as a “very good panel”.
CONCLUSION: Plasma metabolites mainly involved in purine degradation, insulin resistance, and fatty acid oxidation, were altered in early pregnancy in connection with subsequent GDM development.
PMID:34837546 | DOI:10.1007/s11306-021-01857-5
