Visfatin Response to Glucose Is Reduced in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Abstract The insulin-mimetic adipocytokine visfatin has been associated with insulin resistance in some studies and is regulated by glucose. We hypothesized that glucose-induced changes in plasma visfatin are different in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Plasma visfatin concentrations were studied in 10 women with GDM and 10 age-matched healthy women in pregnancy week 24-28 during a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Women with GDM had lower systemic visfatin concentrations than controls (1.9±0.8 ng/ml vs 5.2±4.4 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.05), which were associated with fasting glucose (p<0.05). The glucose-induced increase in visfatin over baseline was smaller in GDM, with an area under the curve of 409±106 ng/ml*min versus 780±345 ng/ml*min in controls (p<0.05). Reduced glucose-induced increases in circulating visfatin may be associated with impaired glucose tolerance in women with GDM.