Oxidative DNA Damage in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Correlation with Antioxidants in an Iraqi Cohort

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the degree of oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus when compared to non-diabetic pregnant women.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 73 participants (29 gestational diabetic women and 44 control pregnant women) attending the Maternal and Childhood Unit, Al-Husayniya Medical Centre, Baghdad, Iraq. The data was analyzed using SPSS (Version 14) and Microsoft Excel (Office2007, Microsoft). All values were expressed as mean±standard deviation (M±SD).

Results: Serum 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine was significantly (P < .001) greater in the gestational diabetes mellitus group compared to control group (57.2±17.6 ng/dl versus 19.8±7.8ng/dl respectively). The increase in 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine was associated with a significant (P < .001) elevation in serum malondialdehyde level (2.1±0.8 nmol/ml versus 1±0.4 nmol/ml) and a significant (P =.05) reduction in plasma reduced glutathione in the gestational diabetes mellitus group compared to the control group (20.6±5 mg/dl compared to 24.1±4.4 mg/dl). A significant change in total cholesterol (5.4±1.1mmol/L) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.3±0.9mmol/L) were also noted in gestational diabetes mellitus group compared to the control group (4.7±1.3mmol/L and 2.8±1mmol/L respectively) at P =.05.

Conclusion: An increase in 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine is associated with higher levels of malondialdehyde and a significant reduction in reduced glutathione in gestational diabetes mellitus group, suggesting that significant oxidative stress associated with lipid peroxidation is occurring. Measuring these markers is useful in monitoring gestational diabetes mellitus to prevent the negative outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus such as increased risk of diabetes and fetal morbidity.