AIM:There is growing evidence that Vitamin D (vitD) has an important role in glucose metabolism. Although there are some observational studies reporting lower levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to normal pregnant women, the other calcium metabolism hormones calcitonin (Cal) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) have not been fully researched in GDM. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitD, Cal and PTH in GDM.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:A total of 100 pregnant women whose ages and body mass indices were similar, fifty with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and the other fifty with GDM, were included in the study. Their demographic and anthropometric parameters, vitD, active vitD, Cal and PTH levels in the summer season were screened retrospectively. The pregnant women with GDM were classified according to the age, parity, being veiled, BMI and vitD levels. All parameters were compared, then the correlations of those parameters were investigated in the groups and GDM subgroups.
RESULTS:VitD levels were statistically insignificantly low in the GDM group and also in the older, multiparous, veiled, and obese GDM subgroups. Cal and PTH levels were not different in both groups. The vitD deficient and obese GDM subgroups had significantly higher Cal levels than their opposite subgroups. There was a positive correlation between Cal and BMI in the GDM group and in the VitD deficient, older, and veiled GDM subgroups. Positive correlation between vitD and C-peptide was found only in the obese GDM subgroup. In the logistic regression analysis including GDM subgroups and calcium metabolism hormones, except younger age (OR=0.116 (95% CI=0.04-0.338, p=<0.001)), VitD, active VitD, Cal, and PTH had no effect on GDM prediction.
CONCLUSION:Although no significant difference was found in the VitD, Cal and PTH levels of the GDM patients during the summer season, it was thought that VitD could play a role in the obese GDM patients. It was also concluded that Cal and PTH did not have roles in gestational diabetes mellitus. Larger, carefully designed studies including throughout the pregnancy and postpartum periods and seasonal variations are required.