The relationship of fat soluble antioxidants with gestational diabetes in Iran: a case-control study

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of fat soluble antioxidants (retinol and α-tocopherol) with gestational diabetes (GDM).

This was a case-control study in which 41 pregnant women with GDM and 41 healthy women were recruited. The inclusion criteria were gestational age ≥32 weeks, singleton foetus, nulliparous or parous women up to four pregnancies and normal fasting blood sugar in the early pregnancy. Two groups were matched regarding age, gestational age and body mass index. A 5 ml venous blood sample were drawn and analysed with the chromatograph for measuring retinol and α-tocopherol. Data were analysed through Chi-square and t test.

The mean serum retinol of the GDM group was 0.46 µg/dl and in the control group it was 0.59 mg/dl (p = 0.01).The mean α-tocopherol in the women with GDM was 6.21 mg/dl and in the control group it was 6.92 mg/dl (p > 0.05).

The level of retinol in the diabetic pregnant women was significantly lower than that in the control group. This reduction may be due to the reduced antioxidant defences in women with GDM.