Assessment of selected lipid parameters in in children exposed to gestational diabetes (GDM) in utero

  Introduction. The assessment of maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy and lipid profile in the offspring is recently highlighted. Aim. The study was undertaken to assess the selected lipid parameters in children exposed to gestational diabetes (GDM) in utero. Material and Methods. 50 children, 7–15 years of age, exposed to GDM were compared with 46 control subjects (7–16 years old). In all participants anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences) and values of total cholesterol, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) were measured. BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and TG to HDL-cholesterol ratio were calculated. Results. The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the study cohort was 38% and 41% in the control (p=0.19). Higher total cholesterol level (p=0.002) and LDL-cholesterol (p=0.007) were found in the study group. In children exposed to GDM significantly higher values of LDL-cholesterol (p=0.02), triglycerides (p=0.02), TG to HDL-cholesterol ratio (p=0.007) and lower HDL-cholesterol (p=0.02) were observed in overweight/obese children compared to slim participants. In the control group, similar results were not noted. In the study group, a positive correlations of TG to HDL-cholesterol ratio and BMI SDS (RS=0.47, p=0.0006), WHR  (RS =0.31, p=0.03), SDS of birth weight (RS =0.47, p=0.0006) were found. Conclusion. Children exposed to GDM in utero could have a higher risk of dyslipidemia with its cardiovascular complications. Towards observed worse lipid parameters in children with excessive body mass born from pregnancies with GDM, prevention of overweight and obesity in this group seems to be essential.