Objective: We aimed to systematically review available literature linking adipokines to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for a comprehensive understanding of the roles of adipokines in the development of GDM.
Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for published studies on adipokines and GDM through October 21, 2014. We included articles if they had a prospective study design (i.e., blood samples for adipokines measurement were collected before GDM diagnosis). Random-effects models were used to pool the weighted mean differences comparing levels of adipokines between GDM cases and non-GDM controls.
Results: Of 1523 potentially relevant articles, we included 25 prospective studies relating adipokines to incident GDM. Our meta-analysis of nine prospective studies on adiponectin and eight prospective studies on leptin indicated that adiponectin levels in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy were 2.25 μg/ml lower (95% CI: 1.75-2.75), whereas leptin levels were 7.25 ng/ml higher (95% CI 3.27-11.22), among women who later developed GDM than women who did not. Prospective data were sparse and findings were inconsistent for visfatin, retinol binding protein (RBP-4), resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vaspin. We did not identify prospective studies for several novel adipokines, including chemerin, apelin, omentin, or adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein. Moreover, no published prospective studies with longitudinal assessment of adipokines and incident GDM were identified.
Conclusion: Adiponectin levels in the first or second trimester of pregnancy are lower among pregnant women who later develop GDM than non-GDM women, whereas leptin levels are higher. Well-designed prospective studies with longitudinal assessment of adipokines during pregnancy are needed to understand the trajectories and dynamic associations of adipokines with GDM risk.
Keywords: Adipokines; Adiponectin; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Leptin.
Published by Elsevier Inc.