Abdominal visceral adiposity in the first trimester predicts glucose intolerance in later pregnancy
- Aisling Mary Martin, MB1,
- Howard Berger, MD1,
- Rosane Nisenbaum, PhD2,
- Andrea Y Lausman, MD1,
- Sharon MacGarvie, RDMS3,
- Carrie Crerar, RN3 and
- Joel G Ray, MD, MSc (rayj{at}smh.toronto.on.ca)1,4,5
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
- 2Centre for Research in Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, ON
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, On
- 4Department of Health Policy Management Evaluation, University of Toronto, ON
- 5Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, ON
Abstract
Background: We assessed whether abdominal adiposity in early pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of glucose intolerance at a later gestational age.
Methods: Subcutaneous and visceral fat were measured by ultrasonograhy at about 12 weeks' gestation. A 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) was performed between 24 and 28 weeks. The risk of having a positive GCT (≥ 7.8 mmol/L) was determined in association with subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue depths above their respective upper quartile values, relative to their bottom three quartile values.
Results: There were 62 women who underwent a GCT. A visceral adipose tissue depth above the upper quartile was significantly associated with a positive GCT in later pregnancy (adjusted OR 16.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 194.6). No association was seen for subcutaneous adipose tissue.
Conclusions: Measurement of visceral adipose tissue depth in early pregnancy may be associated with glucose intolerance later in pregnancy.
Footnotes
-
- Received February 18, 2009.
- Accepted April 14, 2009.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
