Circulating growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) was correlated with lipid profile changes and significantly higher in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in late pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) plays diverse roles in lipid metabolism, and the placenta is a major producer of GDF-15. We aimed to investigate the association of longitudinal changes of GDF-15 during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and lipid profile changes in the three trimesters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six participants diagnosed of GDM and 46 age-matched controls were included in the analysis. Maternal blood samples were obtained serially in the first and second trimester and at the time of delivery. RESULTS: GDF-15 was higher in the GDM group than the non-GDM group, although statistical significance was only reached in the third trimester. Changes in TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were not correlated with the change in GDF-15 from the first to the second trimester. In contrast, the changes in TG and HDL-C during the second to the third trimester transition were associated with GDF-15 change. CONCLUSION: Maternal circulating GDF-15 increased as pregnancy progressed. This increase was found to be more significant in the GDM group than the non-GDM group at the time of delivery. The change in GDF-15 correlated with the transition of lipid profile from the second to the third trimester and also with newborn body weight. Maternal GDF-15 may play an important role in lipid metabolism and participate in the pathophysiology of GDM particularly in late gestation.