Levels of betatrophin decrease during pregnancy despite increased insulin resistance, beta-cell function and
A Zielińska1, R Maciulewski1, K Siewko1
1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
Diabetes & Metabolism
|August 25, 2016
Summary
Betatrophin levels decrease during pregnancy, indicating it does not significantly contribute to insulin resistance (IR) or beta-cell expansion in healthy women. This contrasts with findings in diabetes and obesity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Reproductive Physiology
Background:
- Betatrophin is implicated in insulin resistance (IR), with elevated levels observed in type 2 diabetes, obesity, and gestational diabetes.
- Understanding betatrophin's role in pregnancy is crucial given its association with metabolic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of betatrophin in insulin resistance (IR).
- To evaluate betatrophin's involvement in beta-cell proliferation during pregnancy in healthy women.
Main Methods:
- Studied 80 healthy pregnant women across three trimesters and 45 at 3 months postpartum.
- Included 30 non-pregnant healthy women as controls.
- Measured betatrophin, glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and HbA1c; calculated HOMA-IR and HOMA-β scores.
Main Results:
- Betatrophin concentrations were highest in the first trimester, decreasing significantly through pregnancy and returning to non-pregnant levels postpartum.
- Insulin resistance (IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-β) scores increased during gestation, peaking in the third trimester.
- Postpartum, IR and beta-cell function returned to levels comparable to healthy non-pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- Betatrophin concentrations decline during pregnancy.
- The study suggests betatrophin does not play a significant role in the physiological expansion of beta-cell mass or the development of insulin resistance during pregnancy in healthy women.
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