Comparison of umbilical cord ghrelin concentrations in full-term pregnant women with or without gestational diabetes

Purpose: Ghrelin is a potent orexigenic peptide hormone secreted from the gastrointestinal tract that plays a crucial role in the regulation of lipids and glucose metabolism. Ghrelin also has links with fetal development and growth. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes fetal macrosomia, but there is no available evidence of a relationship between ghrelin levels and birth weight in women with GDM. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether umbilical cord ghrelin concentrations are altered in full-term pregnant women with GDM compared to women without GDM and whether birth weight is correlated with ghrelin levels. Materials and methods: Sixty pregnant women with GDM and 64 healthy pregnant women without GDM were included in this cross-sectional study. Blood samples were drawn from the umbilical vein following birth. Ghrelin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Umbilical vein ghrelin levels were decreased in women with GDM (879.6 +/- 256.1 vs. 972.2 +/- 233.6 pg/ml in women without GDM, p=0.033), whereas birth weights were higher for babies in the GDM than in the non-GDM group (3448 +/- 410 vs. 3308 +/- 365 gr, respectively, p=0.046). Umbilical ghrelin levels were inversely correlated with birth weight (r=-0.765, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that birth weight was independently and negatively associated with umbilical ghrelin levels (= -2.077, 95% CI=-2.652 to -1.492, p=0.002). Conclusions: Umbilical ghrelin levels were lower in GDM women. Birth weight was inversely associated with umbilical ghrelin levels. This association may be explained by a negative feedback mechanism between ghrelin and birth weight.