ASSOCIATION BETWEEN IRON STATUS AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: Early identification of risk factors for gestational diabetes may result in its prevention and better management. In this study, we aimed to compare serum iron, total iron binding capacity and transferring saturation in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes. Methods: A comparative cross sectional analytical study was conducted at Army Medical College and Centre for Research in Experimental and Analytical Medicine (CREAM) in association with Pak Emirates Military Hospital. Thirty healthy pregnant women and thirty patients of gestational diabetes mellitus matched for age, gestational age and body mass index (BMI) were recruited for the study. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes was made on the basis of abnormal glucose tolerance test at twenty four weeks of gestation. Serum iron and total iron binding capacity of all subjects were measured using colorimetric assay and transferrin saturation was calculated. Analysis of data was carried using SPSS-22. Mean values were calculated for all variables and compared by two sample t-test. Pearson correlation was determined to find association between different quantitative variables in two groups and p?0.05 was considered significant. Results: Serum iron was significantly higher (p=0.007), TIBC significantly lower (p=0.004) and transferrin saturation significantly higher (p<0.001) in gestational diabetes group as compared to control group. Conclusion: Markers of iron status including serum iron and transferrin saturation were higher in patients of gestational diabetes and may pose a risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. 

Pak J Physiol 2022;18(2):47–50