Adiponectin and glucose levels in women with negative or false positive glucose challenge test

To determine whether there is a correlation between adiponectin levels and glucose levels in women screened for gestational diabetes mellitus by means of a 50-g oral glucose challenge test, and to examine the difference in adiponectin levels between women who tested negative, and those who tested false positive. We further calculated the correlations between adiponectin levels and glucose levels, body mass index, gestational age and maternal age.

A case control study included 171 mothers with negative or false positive results in the 1-h 50-g glucose challenge test at 24-28 gestational weeks. Serum adiponectin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay at the time of the glucose challenge test.

There was a significant difference between women who tested negative at screening, and those who tested false positive with respect to age, prepregnancy body weight and body mass index, and adiponectin levels. Correlation analysis showed adiponectin levels to be negatively correlated to glucose levels (r=-0.193, P=0.011). To examine the association between glucose levels, adiponectin levels and demographic variables, multiple linear regression analysis was carried out. Prepregnancy body mass index and age accounted for 14.6% of the variance in the glucose challenge test. Adiponectin levels did not contribute independently to the variation in glucose levels. A further multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to investigate the association between adiponectin levels and age, prepregnancy body mass index and glucose levels in the glucose challenge test. In this regression model, prepregnancy body mass index and age explained 12.1% of the variance in adiponectin levels.

In conclusion, our study indicated a negative correlation between adiponectin and glucose levels in women screened for gestational diabetes mellitus by a glucose challenge test. We further found that maternal age and body mass index were independent risk factors for a false positive glucose challenge test. Reduced adiponectin levels in women who tested false positive on the glucose challenge test were dependent on advanced age and higher body mass index.