Serum fibroblast growth factor 21: Lack of association with gestational diabetes and pregnancy outcomes

Table 1 Baseline characteristic of the study population, n (%)

Characteristics	Non-GDM (n = 81)	Diet-treated GDM (n = 25)	Insulin-treated GDM (n = 3)	P value
Maternal age in years	29.37 ± 4.29	31.52 ± 4.67	30.67 ± 4.04	0.10
Parity				0.07
Nulliparity	43 (53.75)	9 (36.00)	0 (0.00)
Multiparity	38 (46.91)	16 (64.00)	3 (100.00)
Risk factor
Pre-pregnancy body mass index in kg/m2	21.88 (19.61-25.51)	22.00 (19.83-27.05)	20.00 (17.67-34.22)	0.96
Previous > 4000 g	1 (1.23)	0	0	> 0.99
Previous GDM (n = 8)	1 (1.23)	1 (4.00)	0	0.45
1st degree relative diabetes mellitus	15 (18.51)	4 (16.00)	2 (66.67)	0.15

Data are mean ± SD, n (%), or median (q₁-q₃). GDM: Gestational diabetes mellitus.

Table 2 Pregnancy outcomes, n (%)

Outcomes	Non-GDM (n = 81)	Diet-treated GDM (n = 25)	Insulin-treated GDM (n = 3)	P value
Gestational age at delivery in weeks	39 (38-39)	38 (38-39)	38 (33-40)	0.780
Birth weighting	3120 (2880-3320)	3050 (2970-3210)	2630 (1580-3090)	0.150
Placental weighting	580.16 ± 136.85	566.67 ± 119.34	410 ± 101.49	0.098
Fetal sex				> 0.990
Male	40 (49.38)	13 (52.00)	1 (33.33)
Female	41 (50.62)	12 (48.00)	2 (66.67)
Apgar score
5-minute	9 (8-9)	9 (8-9)	9 (9-9)	0.700
10-minute	10 (9-10)	10 (9-10)	10 (10-10)	0.800
Pre-eclampsia	7 (8.64)	2 (8.00)	0	> 0.990
Weight at delivery in kg	68.00 (61.30-76.00)	67.70 (58.00–82.50)	70.00 (69.60-80.70)	0.640
Weight gain during pregnancy in kg	13.00 (10.00-17.00)	11.40 (8.70-14.00)	13.60 (3.70-19.00)	0.480

Data are median (q₁-q₃), mean ± SD, or n (%). GDM: Gestational diabetes mellitus.

Table 3 Chemical profiles of the study population, n (%)

Chemical profiles	Non-GDM (n = 81)	Diet-treated GDM (n = 25)	Insulin-treated GDM (n = 3)	P value
1st visit
GA in weeks	12.00 (12.00-13.00)	12.00 (12.00-13.00)	12.00 (12.50-13.00)	0.800
Fasting glucose in mg/dL	77.0 (71-81)	78 (76-81)	98.5 (NA-NA)	0.190
Fasting insulin in μU/mL	7.74 (5.78–10.61)	8.64 (4.83–12.78)	11.71 (NA-NA)	0.480
HOMA-IR	1.52 (1.14–2.06)	1.65 (0.84-2.56)	4.49 (NA-NA)	0.320
HOMA-IR ≥ 2	10 (12.34)	4 (16.00)	1 (33.33)	0.320
2nd visit
GA in weeks	16 (16-17)	16 (16-17)	17 (17-17)	0.320
Fasting glucose in mg/dL	74.00 (68.50-77.00)	72.50 (69.50-77.50)	79.00 (72.00-110.00)	0.007
Fasting insulin in μU/mL	6.96 (5.10-11.82)	7.82 (5.73-10.05)	8.15 (4.85-15.98)	0.930
HOMA-IR	1.23 (0.91-2.29)	1.44 (1.04-1.74)	1.59 (0.86-4.34)	0.840
HOMA-IR ≥ 2	20 (24.69)	5 (20.00)	1 (33.33)	0.600
Fibroblast growth factor 21 in pg/mL	63.59 (54.56-75.57)	62.94 (56.97-69.26)	73.58 (57.28–88.85)	0.730
3rd visit
GA in weeks	25 (24-26)	25 (25-27)	26 (NA-NA)	0.230
Fasting glucose in mg/dL	72 (680-76)	74 (66-79)	71 (NA-NA)	0.350
Fasting insulin in μU/mL	9.92 (6.39-14.85)	9.55 (5.31-20.29)	13.2 (NA-NA)	0.870
HOMA-IR	1.69 (1.10–2.53)	1.79 (0.82–3.97)	2.57 (NA-NA)	0.680
HOMA-IR ≥ 2	25 (30.86)	8 (32.00)	1 (33.33)	0.660

Data are median (q₁-q₃) or n (%). GA: Gestational age; GDM: Gestational diabetes mellitus; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; NA: Not available.

Table 4 Fibroblast growth factor 21 by quintile and selected pregnancy outcomes

Outcomes	Quintile of fibroblast growth factor 21 in pg/mL					P value
	1: 28.52-51.91	2: 53.4-59.23	3: 60.04–67.56	4: 68.24–76.70	5: 79.21-140.55
Maternal age in years	29.14 ± 4.56	30.19 ± 4.90	31.03 ± 4.82	29.05 ± 3.35	30.48 ± 4.17	0.810
Pre-pregnancy body mass index in kg/m2	22.97 (19.42–26.37)	23.00 (20.20-26.56)	20.50 (19.30-23.04)	21.80 (19.57-24.00)	22.50 (19.20-28.00)	0.370
Fasting glucose in mg/dL	77.50 (73.00-80.50)	79.50 (73.00-81.00)	76.50 (74.00-82.0)	77.50 (70.00-82.00)	78.50 (77.00-81.00)	0.990
Fasting insulin in μU/mL	8.57 (5.09-14.50)	9.93 (9.14-10.61)	7.76 (5.26-10.27)	5.08 (4.77-7.65)	8.89 (7.08-14.66)	0.200
Gestational diabetes mellitus	4 (19.05)	7 (33.33)	8 (38.10)	4 (19.05)	5 (23.81)	0.520
Pre-eclampsia	0 (0.00)	3 (14.29)	2 (9.52)	1 (4.76)	2 (9.52)	0.630
Birth weighting	3210 (295-3295)	3120 (2970-3380)	3060 (2820-3140)	3130 (2870-3335)	3025 (2890-3260)	0.400
Placental weighting	577.14 ± 94.01	608.89 ± 113.70	552.94 ± 97.52	555 ± 140.76	567.22 ± 196.79	0.740

Data are median (q₁-q₃), mean ± SD, or n (%).