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. 2021 Jun;16(6):e12757.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12757. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Secondary analysis of gut hormone data from children with and without in utero exposure to gestational diabetes: Differences in the associations among ghrelin, GLP-1, and insulin secretion

Ayse G Zengul  1 , Sarah Et Hoover  1 , Paula C Chandler-Laney  1
Affiliations

Secondary analysis of gut hormone data from children with and without in utero exposure to gestational diabetes: Differences in the associations among ghrelin, GLP-1, and insulin secretion

Ayse G Zengul et al. Pediatr Obes. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Ghrelin and GLP-1 have opposite functions in nutritional homeostasis and are associated with insulin secretion, but it is not known if individuals exposed to GDM exhibit dysregulation in these associations.

Objective: Test the hypothesis that children exposed to GDM in utero will exhibit dysregulation among ghrelin, GLP-1, and C-peptide (reflecting insulin secretion).

Methods: Data from N = 43 children aged 5 to 10 years were included in this secondary analysis of ghrelin, GLP-1, and C-peptide response to a liquid meal test. Repeated measures mixed model analyses were used to measure associations among hormones.

Results: The association of ghrelin and GLP-1 was moderated by GDM group (P < .01), such that ghrelin was inversely associated with GLP-1 in children without GDM exposure, but not for those exposed to GDM. GLP-1 was positively associated with C-peptide in both groups, but the association was stronger in those exposed to GDM (estimate = 1.06 vs 1.01).

Conclusions: Differences in the associations among ghrelin, GLP-1, and C-peptide displayed here suggest novel lines of research about whether the regulation of gut hormones and insulin secretion contribute to obesity and risk for T2D in children exposed to GDM.

Keywords: GLP-1; gestational diabetes; ghrelin; insulin secretion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Interaction plot for A) Ghrelin and GLP-1 (p for interaction = 0.01) B) GLP-1 and C-peptide (p for interaction = 0.03) C) Ghrelin and C-peptide (p for main effect of ghrelin = 0.09) in the GDM (solid, closed circle) and non-GDM (dashed, open circle) groups, independent of time and percent body fat.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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