Effect of Gestational Diabetes and Intrauterine Growth Restriction on the Offspring's Circulating Galanin at Birth

Abstract

Circulating galanin levels at birth are not affected by GDM and IUGR, providing no evidence for alternations in hypothalamic galanin expression and secretion in humans, as they were previously documented in experimental models. This fact precludes the use of plasma galanin as an early indicator for the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in this high-risk population.

Serum Galanin Levels in Young Healthy Lean and Obese Non-Diabetic Men during an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

“…Additionally, the sample size of the former study group (four men and seven women) limits the possibility to establish statistical correlations. In accordance with Legakis et al ., the present study shows a positive correlation with HOMA-IR and serum GAL levels17. Additionally, our study did not show significant differences in fasting glucose levels between obese and lean subjects, and neither showed any significant correlation between fasting glucose and serum GAL levels.…”

“…On the other hand, and contrary to our results, Legakis et al . showed that serum GAL levels increase significantly by 30 min in healthy individuals during OGTT, and return to baseline levels at 180 min17. Contrary to the group studied by Legakis et al .…”

“…Also, plasma GAL levels were elevated in obese young women in comparison with normally menstruating women13. Additionally, recent studies show significantly high serum GAL levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes141516, but no differences in GAL levels were detected in neonates born to gestational diabetic mothers, neonates with intrauterine growth restriction and healthy neonates17. GAL levels were also increased in type 1 and type 2 diabetes314161819, positively correlated with the blood glucose level320, and with hemoglobin A1c content among type 1 diabetes mellitus patients18.…”

Maternal OGTT Glucose Levels at 26–30 Gestational Weeks with Offspring Growth and Development in Early Infancy

“…This phenomenon may relate with complementary food supplements for infants more than 6–9 months old. In animal models, maternal hyperglycemia resulted in perinatal hyperglycemia and increased hypothalamic insulin levels, followed by findings of permanent dysplasia of hypothalamic nuclei regulating food intake and metabolism in the offspring [24]. These alterations may increase food intake, with preference for fat, and further increase the risk of overweight or obesity in offspring at adulthood [24, 25].…”

“…In animal models, maternal hyperglycemia resulted in perinatal hyperglycemia and increased hypothalamic insulin levels, followed by findings of permanent dysplasia of hypothalamic nuclei regulating food intake and metabolism in the offspring [24]. These alterations may increase food intake, with preference for fat, and further increase the risk of overweight or obesity in offspring at adulthood [24, 25]. Thus, early infant diet on the growth and development of children who may be programmed for a faster growth trajectory may be decided by utero exposure to overnutrition from a diabetic pregnancy.…”