Anthropometric Indices and Metabolic Profiles of Children of Mothers With and Without Gestational Diabetes at Age of 5 Years

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that Indian babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an adverse metabolic profile earlier in life. We compared the anthropometry and metabolic profiles in children of women with and without GDM at age 5 years.

Methods:

Children born between 2010 and 2015 to mothers with GDM (CGDM) and without GDM (WGDM) were included in this prospective study. We examined associations between maternal gestational BMI, GDM, offspring height, weight, BMI and subscapular skinfold (SSF) and triceps skinfold (TSF) thickness, fasting (FBS) and post glucose blood sugar (PPBS), lipid profile and liver function tests at age 5 years.

Results:

Maternal BMI was positively associated with the adiposity in both groups. The risk of being overweight/obese was increased 3.27-fold if mothers were overweight/obese (95% CI 1.56-416) compared to 4.35-fold (95% CI 2.50-9.88) if mothers additionally had GDM. CGDM had higher measures of SSF and TSF as compared to WGDM (p < 0.001). A higher FBS (92 ± 4.6 mg% vs 88 ± 3.22 mg%) but not PPBS was seen in CGDM vs WGDM. HDL was lower (37 ± 2.3 mg% vs 43 ± 1.96 mg%) and triglycerides (133 ± 4.4 mg% vs 127 ± 3.37 mg%) levels were higher in CGDM vs WGDM. There were no differences in the LDL levels. Transaminases (SGOT, SGPT) were higher in WGDM as compared to CGDM, but the differences were not significant. There were no differences in anthropometry and metabolic parameters irrespective of the treatment given for gestational diabetes. We did not find any gender specific differences although males had higher SSG, TSF and lower HDL levels as compared to females.

Discussion/Conclusion:

CGDM had higher anthropometric measures - SSF and TSF- and higher fasting glucose, low HDL and higher triglycerides as compared to WGDM at age of 5 years. This may translate into adverse metabolic outcomes later in life and contribute to disease burden. Interventions focused on obesity prevention in women planning to conceive (and otherwise also), and effective management of GDM may contribute towards reducing childhood obesity.