Association between markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid profiles, and insulin resistance in pregnant women

BACKGROUND: Increased levels of pro-inflammatory factors, markers of oxidative stress and lipid profiles are known to be associated with several complications. The aim of this study was to determine the association of markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid profiles with insulin resistance in pregnant women in Kashan, Iran. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin, ۸-oxo-۷, ۸-dihydroguanine (۸-oxo-G), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured among ۸۹ primigravida singleton pregnant women aged ۱۸-۳۰ years at ۲۴-۲۸ weeks of gestation. Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regressions were used to assess their relationships with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: We found that among biochemical indicators of pregnant women, serum hs-CRP and total cholesterol levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR (β = ۰.۰۵, P = ۰.۰۰۶ for hs-CRP and β = ۰.۰۰۶, P = ۰.۰۰۶ for total cholesterol). These associations remained significant even after mutual effect of other biochemical indicators were controlled (β = ۰.۰۴, P = ۰.۰۱ for hs-CRP and β = ۰.۰۰۷, P = ۰.۰۲ for total cholesterol). Further adjustment for body mass index made the association of hs-CRP and HOMA-IR disappeared; however, the relationship for total cholesterol remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that serum total cholesterol is independently correlated with HOMA-IR score. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings. Keywords: Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Insulin Resistance, Pregnancy