Does Second Trimester Maternal Serum Zonulin Level Predict Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?

Abstract

Zonulin, a protein that regulates intestinal permeability, has attracted attention as a potential biomarker for GDM. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether there are differences in zonulin levels between the GDM group and control groups, especially between those receiving different treatments (diet and insulin). Based on this idea, we included 90 patients with a gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks in our study. While GDM was not detected in 33 of these patients, as a result of OGTT, 57 patients were diagnosed with GDM and these patients were followed throughout their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed by an OGTT performed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards. During follow-up, GDM patients were divided into two groups according to whether they required insulin treatment. Plasma zonulin levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. The GDM group had significantly higher plasma zonulin levels than the control group (p < 0.005). According to our research, zonulin may be a non-invasive biomarker involved in the etiology of GDM. Large-scale research on this topic is still needed.