Postpartum development of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress markers in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus

Relationships between adhesion molecules (AM), oxidative stress, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus are unclear. We investigated AM and oxidant/antioxidant markers in women with previous history of GDM. Postpartum women with GDM (cases; n = 41) and healthy women (controls; n = 21) had clinical and laboratory variables measured, including indicators of vascular damage (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin), oxidative stress (LPO, GSH and GST) and antioxidant markers (catalase, SOD, GPX and TAC). Previous GDM versus control women presented higher body mass index: 27.4 +/- A 5.6 versus 23.9 +/- A 3.6 (p = 0.013); waist circumference: 85.2 +/- A 12.9 versus 77.5 +/- A 9.0 (p = 0.017); MetS (WHO definition): 14.6 versus 0 % (p = 0.012); MetS (NCEP-ATPIII definition): 22 versus 0 % (p = 0.002); low HDL: 36.6 versus 9.5 % (p = 0.024); fasting glucose (mmol/L): 5.4 +/- A 0.6 versus 4.9 +/- A 0.2 (p < 0.001); glucose 120 min (mg/dL): 105.0 +/- A 30.2 versus 85.1 +/- A 14.2 (p = 0.007); fasting insulin (mu U/mL): 13.4 +/- A 8.1 versus 8.4 +/- A 4.3 (p = 0.004); HOMA index: 3.3 +/- A 2.3 versus 1.8 +/- A 1.0 (p = 0.002); HbA1c (%/mmol/mol): 5.4 +/- A 0.2 versus 5.2 +/- A 0.2/36 +/- A 1.4 versus 33 +/- A 1.4 (p = 0.021); uric acid (mg/dL): 4.1 +/- A 1 versus 3.5 +/- A 0.6 (p = 0.009); catalase (nmol/min/mL): 38.7 +/- A 15.6 versus 28.9 +/- A 11.1 (p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in hypertension prevalence, lipid fractions, albumin/creatinine ratio and AM. Women with previous GDM have high catalase levels which correlate positively with glucose intolerance, indicating the potential effect of oxidative stress on postpartum dysglycemic status.