ABSTRACT

Aim:

The aim of the present study was to determine levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), malondialdehyde and some biochemical parameters in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with healthy pregnant women, and to evaluate the relationships among these parameters.

Materials and Methods:

The patients consisted of 56 pregnant with GDM. The control group consisted of 60 healthy pregnant women. Plasma malondialdehyde, blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol were measured by biochemical methods. The concentrations of serum Fe, Cu and Zn were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results:

The levels of blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol, levels of plasma malondialdehyde, levels of serum Fe and Cu in women with GDM group were found higher than those in healthy pregnant women. However, levels of serum Zn were significantly lower in GDM pregnants than those in the healthy pregnant women. There were significant negative correlations between LDL-cholesterol and Cu levels of GDM subjects. Additionally, there were significant negative correlation between LDL-cholesterol and plasma malondialdehyde levels. However, there were significant positive correlations between serum Fe and plasma malondialdehyde levels.

Conclusion:

Our findings emphasize the significant deficiencies of Zn levels and the significant elevation of malondialdehyde, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in women with GDM. Therefore, supplementation with Zn element involved in the antioxidative system may increase antioxidative enzyme activities, and consequently, an improvement in fetal and maternal complications may be expected.