A Study Of The Impact Of Carrying ‘Xy Chromosome’ On Maternal Insulin Secretion And Insulin Resistance At A Tertiary Care Center In Chennai

Abstract

Background: Retrospective analyses of perinatal databases have raised the suspicion that there could be a positive association between the fetal gender and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but it is still unclear. We thus thought to evaluate the relationship between fetal sex and maternal glucose metabolism in a well-characterized cohort of women reflecting the full spectrum of GDM in a prospective cohort study.
Research Design & Methods: It is a prospective cohort study with 104 pregnant women with GDM diagnosed by Diabetes in Pregnancy Societies of India (DIPSI) guidelines were selected for the study. Maternal BMI, and mode of treatment given for GDM was noted along with baby’s birth weight and gender. Clinical risk factors were compared between women carrying a female fetus (n = 52) and those carrying a male fetus (n = 52).
Statistical Analysis: GDM mother’s glucose challenge test (GCT) values, mode of treatment of GDM mothers, baby birth weight, maternal body mass index (BMI) at term, and mode of delivery were expressed in percentage. A Chi-square test was used to estimate the association between the maternal GCT values versus fetal gender and fetal gender versus mode of maternal treatment, using SPSS 21.0 version.
Results: Women carrying a male fetus had a poorer β-cell function and higher range of GCT values as compared with those carrying a female fetus. Furthermore, women carrying a male fetus had higher proportions of developing GDM and its complications.
Conclusion: Male fetus is associated with poorer β-cell function, higher GCT values and an increased risk of GDM in the mother. Thus, fetal sex potentially may influence maternal glucose metabolism in pregnancy.