Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Visfatin is a newly discovered adipocytokine hormone, which exerts an insulin-like effect by binding to the insulin receptor-1. However, the role of visfatin in human gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between serum visfatin and metabolism of glucose and lipid in GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study. A total of 38 GDM patients and 35 age- and body mass index-matched controls were studied between January 2012 and October 2013. Fasting serum levels of visfatin, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c and lipid profile were measured. Two-tailed t-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Perinatal visfatin levels were negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance index and triglycerides in controls (r = -0.47, -0.51, -0.57, respectively; P < 0.05), and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.32, P < 0.05). A positive correlation with visfatin level only appeared in weight gain and body mass index in women with GDM (r = 0.36, 0.45, respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Visfatin appears to be involved in glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and insulin resistance, suggesting a role in GDM pathogenesis.