Evaluation of circulating betatrophin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus

Experimental data indicate that betatrophin plays a significant role in the regulation of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. In recent years, considerable attention has focused on the relationship between betatrophin and diabetes mellitus in humans. This case-control study included 45 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 45 pregnant healthy controls. The groups were matched for maternal and gestational age and body mass index. Serum betatrophin levels were significantly higher in women with GDM (median = 635.8 ng/L; range: 290-1841.6 ng/L) compared to control subjects (median = 320.1 ng/L; range: 94.6-936.8 ng/L; p = 0.001). No significant correlations were observed between serum betatrophin levels and clinical or biochemical parameters in the control group. However, in the GDM group, serum betatrophin levels were positively correlated with weight gain during pregnancy (r = 0.304, p = 0.042), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.394, p = 0.007), fasting insulin level (r = 0.348, p = 0.019), and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; r = 0.311, p = 0.038). Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that fasting insulin levels (beta = 0.342, p = 0.022) and HOMA-IR (beta = 0.312, p = 0.037) were independently associated with serum betatrophin levels.