RESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study was designed to explore the relevance of Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its polymorphism in the cardiometabolic risk in gestational diabetes mellitus patients before diet-therapy (GDMA1). METHODS: South Indian Tamilian pregnant women were screened and 145 were grouped as GDMA1 (n = 73) and normal pregnancy (n = 72). Serum OPG, TNF α, lipid profile, insulin and blood pressure was compared. Genomic DNA was analysed for rs2073617 T950C polymorphism. Chi square test was done to analyze the frequency distribution of alleles. Multiple regression analysis was done to assess the association among cardiometabolic parameters. RESULTS: TNF α (p < 0.01), Osteoprotegerin (p < 0.01), lipid profile (p < 0.01), atherogenic indices (p < 0.01), systolic and diastolic and blood pressure (<0.001) levels were higher in GDMA1 patients. TNF α (p < 0.01) and osteoprotegerin (p < 0.01) were higher in women with CT allele. Osteoprotegerin was independently contributed by BMI in all GDMA1 cases and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in CT allele cases. There was significantly higher odd (OR = 3.63) in the distribution of CT genotype among the multiparous women. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoprotegerin, atherogenic lipid risk factor and inflammation are higher in GDMA1 women. Rise in OPG is contributed by high BMI in GDMA1 women. Higher odds of CT allele distribution in multiparous women suggests that TT allele women are at higher risk of developing GDM in their first pregnancy. Further analysis of T950C polymorphism in a larger cohort is warranted to confirm its role.