Are plasma total homocysteine and other amino acids associated with glucose intolerance in uncomplicated pregnancies and preeclampsia?

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 119; no. 1; pp. 36 - 41
• Main Authors: López-Quesada, Eva, Antònia Vilaseca, M., Gómez, Elena, Lailla, Josep M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine - blood; Amino acids; Amino Acids - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes, Gestational - blood; Diabetes, Gestational - complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Gestational diabetes; Glucose intolerance; Glucose Intolerance - blood; Glucose Intolerance - complications; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Hyperhomocysteinemia - blood; Hyperhomocysteinemia - complications; Medical sciences; Plasma total homocysteine; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Pre-Eclampsia - complications; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Prospective Studies; Vitamin B Complex - blood; Amino acids; Gestational diabetes; Glucose intolerance; Plasma total homocysteine; Preeclampsia; Endocrinopathy; Thiol; Pregnancy disorders; Gynecology; Maternal diseases; Obstetrics; Pregnancy toxemia; Blood plasma; Sulfur containing aminoacid; Homocystein; Female; Impaired glucose tolerance
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.01.046
• ISSN: 0301-2115

Objective: To evaluate the possible association between plasma total homocysteine or other amino acid concentrations and gestational diabetes or glucose intolerance (GI), in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women. Study design: Prospective study including 243 pregnant women without previous risk factors. O’Sullivan test (plus oral glucose tolerance test when necessary) was performed, and homocysteine, B vitamins and plasma amino acids (AA) were measured at 24–25 weeks. Homocysteine and other amino acids were also measured in the third trimester. Results: Significant differences were observed in the incidence of preeclampsia in relation to abnormal glucose tolerance ( P < 0.012). In normotensive patients, the glucose intolerance group showed significantly lower tHcy ( P = 0.021) and increased plasma alanine concentrations in comparison with controls ( P = 0.046), although no correlation was observed between both amino acid concentrations. Conclusions: (a) A higher incidence of preeclampsia was observed in abnormal glucose tolerance patients, (b) total homocysteine and alanine were the only individual amino acids whose plasma concentrations varied according to the glucose tolerance classes, and (c) an association between hyperhomocysteinemia and glucose intolerance in our preeclamptic patients could not be demonstrated.